LONDON – The British Royal Family are remembering World War One today. In London, a sea of red is serving as a reminder of the bloodshed during World War I.
Prince William, his wife Kate and brother Prince Harry waded into a field of poppies — part of an installation marking 100 years since the start of the so-called war to end all wars.
Each of the ceramic poppies are handmade, and each one represents the death of a British soldier.
After meeting with members of the military, the royals added their own poppies to the display.
A total of 888, 246 poppies will be planted in the Tower of London’s dry moat throughout the summer. The crimson flower is a reminder of the brutal trench warfare waged in Belgian poppy fields.
The final poppy will be placed on November 11, the anniversary of Armistice Day and the end of World War One.
The Poppy as a symbol of Remembrance Day has its roots in the poem by Canadian soldier John McCrae, “In Flander Fields”.
During the Second Battle of Ypres Major John McCrae, a Canadian artillery officer was asked to conduct the burial service for his friend Lieutenant Alexis Helmer who had been killed on 2nd May, 1915 near Ypres.
After the burial service, Major McCrae got the inspiration for his poem.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
