By Joanne Dorr
The Haldimand Press
Since those opening lines of John McCrae’s poem, In Flanders Fields, poppies have become a global symbol that pays tribute to the lives lost in war, along with veterans and those who continue to serve. For the first time, Edinburgh Square will be adorned with thousands of poppies this year thanks to the Haldimand Horticultural Society (HHS).
HHS got the idea for ‘The Poppy Project’ after seeing similar successful projects in Niagara-on-the-Lake and in Selkirk. The project starts by sending a request to the public to knit or crochet poppies, and these poppies are then collected and used to create banners/tapestries to be displayed, commemorating past and present service men and women.
With the support of Jenny Bryce, organizer of the Selkirk Poppy Project, HHS got started in November 2021. HHS member Sharon Slack says, “Jenny gave us the pattern, otherwise we would have had no place to start.”
Green Gardians working on the banners.
HHS gave copies of the patterns to local libraries, asking community members to crochet or knit poppies and drop the finished poppies off at libraries in Jarvis, Cayuga, Hagersville, and Caledonia.
In addition to the various library locations, groups like the St. Paul’s Shawl Club, Cayuga Seniors Drop in Centre Knitting Club, Caledonia Cypress Knitting Club, Jarvis Knitting Social Club, and the Green Gardians (HHS’s junior group) got involved. HHS President Elsie Eubanks proudly observes, “The juniors and the elders worked together.”
HHS’ goal to collect 900 poppies was surpassed as they gathered over 2,500, among them several purple poppies. The purple poppy is symbolic for the animals who also lost their lives in service.
After HHS had collected the poppies, they began holding workshops to attach them all to over 150 feet of poppy banners. These banners were then installed on either side of the cenotaph and around the park. Slack says, “We thought this would be great to get the community involved.”
With this thought still in mind, some loose red and purple poppies will be available if anyone attending wishes to add their own poppy to the banner.
Contributing to this project held great personal significance for many. Volunteer and HHS member Anne Jay explains, “As I crocheted each poppy my thoughts went to the reason and tragedy of war and my dad. He enlisted in the army just months after his 18th birthday in 1942 and was sent to Germany and France. He didn’t talk about the war. He was one of the lucky men and women who returned home in 1946.”
The poppy banners are now on display.
