Poppies

[Maggie]

Much discussion going on in the office this morning regarding poppies. If I remember correctly, going back many years, poppies only had the black center, then years later went to the green. Now, they are back to black only again. Does anybody know the reason why? My guess is it had something to do with the veterans not liking the green, but not positive.

 

[Beaker]

Much discussion going on in the office this morning regarding poppies. If I remember correctly, going back many years, poppies only had the black center, then years later went to the green. Now, they are back to black only again. Does anybody know the reason why? My guess is it had something to do with the veterans not liking the green, but not positive.

I just had this discussion with someone who remembers.

Years back the poppy had both - a small green felt center on the black center. I don't remember the green only center
The black only center has been around for awhile now.
The reason for black only, I do not know - perhaps the cost.

According to this person - when poppies first came out, there were 3 types - large, medium and small. At that time you actullay paid for the poppy.

 

[Maggie]

You could be right, Beaker, altho, I don't remember them having a a small green center years ago. Only the black, I'm going back to when I was about 10 or so. Then they went to green and I thought it was only in the last 2 years or so, they were black again.

Slow day today...

 

[Karnac]

"The poppies used to always have the black centre as that is how a real poppy actually appears. In the 60's they changed the poppy to a three piece affair red, green then black but that evolved to the red with green centre, the red to symbolize the blood and the green, the fields upon which the blood was spilt. Most vets like the original poppy design and felt the black centre symbolized the respect of mourning their comrades much like they used to with the black arm band. This is all I know about the matter and it could be totally incorrect but, my dad used to be past president at the Legion and this is what he told me."

This is from a Readers Digest Forum post I found when I Googled
"poppy design changes veterans black green".....In 2002 the poppies were black and green.....in 2003 they changed to black only centers.

 

[shirazbai]

The main cause for the switch was, as always, marketing. You will note that the current trend is to alternate black and green, year to year. This was done mainly to show that you were wearing a current poppy and had made the required donation to give you the privilege to do so. You could not wear last year's poppy, as it would be off colour in the centre (i.e. green instead of black or vice versa). If you ever decided that you would wear the poppy from two years ago, thus hoping to cancel out the colour variation, your poppy would stand out quite a bit, as the red dye would be discoloured enough (almost orange) to notice the difference, thus causing you some embarassment.

Them's the apples, and tomatoes are still an arm and a leg.

 

[gsobier]

Maggie:

Oh boy, you have really dated yourself this time. Why don't you keep one around and wear it every year instead (saves paying for one every year too)... ...sure, it would go in and out of style depending on what they have for the year.

At least the black centres are poppies and not poopies unless a dog played with it.

Regards,
George

You could be right, Beaker, altho, I don't remember them having a a small green center years ago. Only the black, I'm going back to when I was about 10 or so. Then they went to green and I thought it was only in the last 2 years or so, they were black again.

Slow day today...

 

[snozberries]

Lisa, if you don't like your job, you don't strike: you just go in every day and do it really half assed. That's the American way.

 

[Dennis Bassboss]

Lisa, if you don't like your job, you don't strike: you just go in every day and do it really half assed. That's the American way.

Do we ever know?