[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 443 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 443

       Supporting the goals and ideals of ``National Poppy Day''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 25, 2023

   Mr. Carson (for himself, Mrs. Spartz, Mr. Costa, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. 
Fitzpatrick, Ms. Titus, Mr. Bucshon, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Mr. Mrvan, 
 Mr. Kim of New Jersey, Mr. Case, Mr. Banks, and Mr. Pence) submitted 
the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed 
                                Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
       Supporting the goals and ideals of ``National Poppy Day''.

Whereas poppies are worn and displayed as a symbolic tribute to fallen and 
        future veterans and members of the Armed Forces;
Whereas the use of the poppy symbolically comes from the poem ``In Flanders 
        Fields'', which movingly begins, ``In Flanders Fields the poppies blow, 
        between the crosses, row on row'', referring to the poppies that sprang 
        up in the battlefields and newly dug soldiers' graves in parts of 
        Belgium and France during World War I;
Whereas John McCrae's poem inspired Moina Belle Michael of Athens, Georgia, to 
        write her own poem entitled ``We Shall Keep the Faith'', in which she 
        promised to wear a red poppy to memorialize American soldiers killed in 
        World War I;
Whereas the American Legion family and the Veterans of Foreign Wars adopted the 
        poppy as a symbol of freedom and the blood shed by those who have served 
        in the United States Armed Forces;
Whereas the red poppy has been worn in the United States for more than 80 years 
        as a way to remember those individuals who died fighting for freedom and 
        democracy around the world and to raise money to help disabled veterans;
Whereas the poppy is worn throughout the world to commemorate members of the 
        Armed Forces who have died in the line of duty, as part of Remembrance 
        Day, Armistice Day, or Poppy Day ceremonies;
Whereas, as the United States commemorates yearly the lives of Americans who 
        gave the ultimate sacrifice of their lives on Memorial Day, it is 
        fitting to attach the symbolic meaning of the poppy and formally 
        recognize its historic symbolism;
Whereas wearing a poppy can unite citizens from across the country who wish to 
        show their patriotism and appreciation for those who serve as members of 
        the United States Armed Forces; and
Whereas the Friday before each Memorial Day is an appropriate day to recognize 
        as ``National Poppy Day'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of ``National Poppy 
        Day'';
            (2) honors past and current members of the Armed Forces of 
        the United States and their families; and
            (3) encourages all citizens, residents, and visitors of the 
        United States to join in observing ``National Poppy Day'' by 
        wearing a red poppy the Friday before Memorial Day as a sign of 
        admiration and thanks to those individuals who died to preserve 
        freedom.
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