DAV Forget-Me-Nots to Remember Our Disabled Veterans

What is Argonne Day? The Battle of the Argonne Forest was a major part of the final Allied offensive of WWI. The battle started on September 26, 1918 and lasted until Armistice Day, November 11, 1918. This battle involved 1.2 million American soldiers as they fought side by side with our allies in a series of attacks known as the Hundred Day Offensive. It brought the war to its end costing the Germans to lose 28,000 soldiers and the United States 26,277 lives were lost. It is said to have been the largest and bloodiest battle of WWI.

When our soldiers came home there were many disabled veterans who felt forgotten by their government. Their requests for government treatment and compensation were being ignored. They needed to be heard, they needed their government which they fought so hard for and sacrificed so much to hear them and stop denying their claims.

This was a big undertaking for our disabled veterans and they needed help so the enlisted the aid of young girls, society women, and the general public to help them find a way to raise funds to help our disabled veterans. The disabled veterans were to make forget-me-nots out of crepe paper and the volunteers would go out and sell them so they could be worn in remembrance of our disabled veterans.The tag attached to the flower read Forget-Me-Nots, sold by and for, Disabled American Veterans of the World War.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote:

“Silently, one by one, in the infinite meadows of heaven, blossomed the lovely starts, the forget-me-nots of the angels.”  Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie

What is a forget-me-not? A forget-me-not is a small perennial herb bearing beautiful bright blue or white flowers. It is considered an emblem of fidelity and friendship.The proceeds of the sale of these crepe paper flowers went towards funding relief programs for the permanently injured veterans. The goal of the supporters who worked so hard on this campaign drive was to put to rest any doubt of the nation’s appreciation of the disabled veterans as well as their families.

These flowers were offered first in every large city and town throughout the nation. There were many appreciative people who had not forgotten all our soldiers had done for us during our time of war. They wanted to help and show them their appreciation. Buying and wearing a forget-me-not was the least they could do.

To the American people who wore this flower it showed they were unselfishly supporting our disabled veterans the way our disabled American veterans unselfishly went off to war for our rights and safety. It was a way of saying thank you and at the same time remember those who returned from the war.

The DAV had hopes and dreams that the sale of this small flower would raise them enough money to help carry on their important work in years to come. They kicked off their first official Forget-Me-Not Day on February 24, 1926. As you can imagine it took time to get these flowers made and the campaign started so it would be beneficial to all those who needed the help of the DAV.

It was decided in 1929 these flowers would be sold on two days of the year and the money put to good use for our disabled veterans. September 26, Argonne Day and November 11, Armistice Day are the two days a year these flowers were sold unless the weather was bad, then they could sell them on an alternate day.

Calvin Coolidge was our President at the time of the first annual appeal to the public with the sale of Forget-Me-Nots by the DAV. He issued a proclamation calling upon the American people to show their support for our disabled veterans by purchasing the flowers. If not for the work of the DAV many disabled veterans would have not had the help they needed. President Coolidge commended them for their work in assisting to alleviate the suffering of our disabled veterans.

So why Forget-Me-Nots? It is said the idea behind the Forget-Me-Not flower came from an image carried home from WWI. It was in the memories of the soldiers returning home who had seen spring flowers growing among the graves of their buddies and allies killed in the line of duty.

For such a small flower it makes a big statement as it asks “Please, do not forget me.” It doesn’t only speak of those who did not return home but for those who returned from war disabled as well as with memories they can never wipe away. It is a symbol to remind us of our military men and women’s service as well as their sacrifices in order to make our way of life possible. This symbol is a legacy which started after our veterans returned home from WWI and continues till today.

The DAV is there to help our disabled veterans and their families in a variety of ways. The selling of these flowers have helped to raise funds in order to continue to do their work. The public responds well to the Forget-Me-Not drive because it is hosted by the DAV, an organization they trust and hold in high regard.

I don’t know about you but when I see an elderly man standing outside in front of a store or on a street corner selling Forget-Me-Not crepe paper flowers I cannot resist no matter how many I have already bought one. To me, it is a small price to pay for the freedoms we enjoy and the sacrifices our service men and women have had to endure as well as their families.

I have proudly worn my flower on my jacket or wrapped it around the strap of my pocketbook to show my appreciation and dedication to our military. There is no other country in the world I would rather live in and I am so very proud of our military. Our brave young men and women deserve to know we support them and will continue to do so long after they return home.

May God Bless America and watch over our disabled veterans and help them heal.