05/25/2026
Thank you UCP: Memorial Day began after the American Civil War as a way to honor soldiers who died in military service. Originally called Decoration Day, people would decorate the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers, flags, and wreaths.
The red poppy became a symbol of remembrance for fallen soldiers after World War I.
The tradition stems from the famous 1915 poem "In Flanders Fields" by Canadian military physician and officer John McCrae. He wrote about bright red poppies growing across the battlefields and graves in Flanders (in present-day Belgium), where enormous numbers of soldiers had died during the war.
One of the poem’s most famous lines is:
“In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row ...”
United Cerebral Palsy honors the courageous service members who gave their lives to defend our nation. May their sacrifice never be in vain.
As we reflect on their legacy, let us continue striving for a world where freedom and dignity are extended to all.
Memorial Day began after the American Civil War as a way to honor soldiers who died in military service. Originally called Decoration Day, people would decorate the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers, flags, and wreaths.
The red poppy became a symbol of remembrance for fallen soldiers after World War I.
The tradition stems from the famous 1915 poem "In Flanders Fields" by Canadian military physician and officer John McCrae. He wrote about bright red poppies growing across the battlefields and graves in Flanders (in present-day Belgium), where enormous numbers of soldiers had died during the war.
One of the poem’s most famous lines is:
“In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row ...”
United Cerebral Palsy honors the courageous service members who gave their lives to defend our nation. May their sacrifice never be in vain.
As we reflect on their legacy, let us continue striving for a world where freedom and dignity are extended to all.
