Didja Know...National Dog Day Edition
Tail-waggin' trivia about humankind's best friend
They pick us up when we're down; get us up, moving and motivated; provide hours of snuggles and slobbery kisses; and can even play the hero. For thousands of years, dogs have been our constant companions, loyal protectors, and devoted family members (check out our other feature this month to see some of the other "pawsitives" that we get from dog ownership)...but no matter how much you know about our pampered pooch pals, there's always something more to learn. In honor of National Dog Day, check out some of our favorite, frivolous fun facts about humankind's best buds!
Struck by the contrast, moved by the hardy flower’s tenacity to grow in the harsh landscape, and mourning the loss of one of his close friends (Lt. Alexis Helmer, who had been one of the 87,000-plus Allied casualties during the battle), McCrae penned the poem, which was published in Punch magazine later that year.
In 1918, Moina Michael, an American professor who had taken a leave of absence from her job to volunteer with the American YMCA Overseas War Secretaries organization, read “In Flanders Field” and was so was inspired by the poem and she published a poem of her own called "We Shall Keep the Faith,” and committed to always wearing a red poppy as a symbol of remembrance for those who fought and helped in the war.
Michael began a campaign to make the poppy a nationwide symbol, crafting silk flowers and distributing them. Her perseverance and dedication paid off, and in 1920, the National American Legion designated the red poppy as the official national emblem of remembrance.
Similar efforts occurred around the globe, and today, millions of people in the U.S., the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Belgium, Australia, and New Zealand recognize the meaning of the hardy little red flower, pinning it to their lapels on their respective days of remembrance.
Struck by the contrast, moved by the hardy flower’s tenacity to grow in the harsh landscape, and mourning the loss of one of his close friends (Lt. Alexis Helmer, who had been one of the 87,000-plus Allied casualties during the battle), McCrae penned the poem, which was published in Punch magazine later that year.
In 1918, Moina Michael, an American professor who had taken a leave of absence from her job to volunteer with the American YMCA Overseas War Secretaries organization, read “In Flanders Field” and was so was inspired by the poem and she published a poem of her own called "We Shall Keep the Faith,” and committed to always wearing a red poppy as a symbol of remembrance for those who fought and helped in the war.
Michael began a campaign to make the poppy a nationwide symbol, crafting silk flowers and distributing them. Her perseverance and dedication paid off, and in 1920, the National American Legion designated the red poppy as the official national emblem of remembrance.
Similar efforts occurred around the globe, and today, millions of people in the U.S., the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Belgium, Australia, and New Zealand recognize the meaning of the hardy little red flower, pinning it to their lapels on their respective days of remembrance.
