Anzac Day holds a special place in the hearts of Australians and New Zealanders, serving as a solemn reminder of the sacrifices made by brave service personnel. Amidst the ceremonies and tributes, one symbol stands out prominently—the red poppy. Millions wear a poppy on Anzac Day, but the ritual dates back to a poignant moment in history, intimately tied to the YMCA.
The Y has long been dedicated to supporting our defence forces during times of conflict. During World War 1, Moina Michael worked in a YMCA canteen in New York. Moina had been deeply moved by John McCrae’s haunting poem In Flanders Fields and wrote a reply to McCrae: ‘We shall keep the faith’. Inspired by the poem, she became the first to wear a red poppy.
Michael’s act of wearing the red poppy sparked a profound movement. Over the following years, veterans’ groups in Canada, Great Britain, Australia, and other countries also began to take up the practice. The poppy, symbolising the bloodshed of war, soon gained widespread acceptance across allied nations as the flower of remembrance to be worn on Armistice Day, later expanding to encompass Anzac Day.
On this day of reflection and remembrance, let us honour the enduring spirit of the ANZACs. Wear your red poppy proudly—a symbol that originated from the heart of the YMCA’s commitment to service and solidarity. Lest we forget.
In Flanders fields
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.
Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae