Lest We Forget

During the workshops and events crafting the poppies the community developed a story for the display in the center of the town to mark the centenary of the end of WW1.

“The poppies flowing down from Lady Liberty’s cape in rows represent the soldiers marching off to war from their homeland. The road represents the seas crossed, and traffic island represents other lands. The poppies on the common represent the battlefields of Europe, where many perished.  Each poppy is different as every life is unique and precious. The different colored centers represent different aspects of service, purple is for the animals, white is for the medical core, blue is for marines, and some have hearts for loved ones. The poppies are planted in both the island and rotary to represent those that died elsewhere, and those that returned home but died prematurely as a result of their injuries. The poppies on the road represent those that died at sea. The wreaths remind us that this was a global war and the circle of life. The one black poppy reminds us of the millions of civilian deaths as a result of this conflict.”