Poppies for Remembrance

One of the annual traditions of Memorial Day which I've found touching is the selling of red paper poppies by the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars.)  As a child I just loved wearing the poppy proudly along with everyone else at the annual Memorial Day Parade, but as an adult I tear up every time I buy mine from a veteran outside the grocery store.  I also remember memorizing the poem Flanders Fields and reciting it solemnly with my whole class on the Friday before Memorial Day.  (If you're wondering when and where the tradition of the red poppy started check out this link from our Veteran's Affairs website.)

I've got these two amazing lampwork beads from Diane Sepanski of the GlassJunkie on Etsy.  They both feature poppies.  I had so many ideas for them after I purchased them last year that they languished in their cubby until I thought of them this month as an inspiration for Remembrance Necklaces.  The first one is photographed in this post (SOLD), but the other one will be more involved and take me more time to complete.  I hope to finish it before this Memorial Day!

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.