Madam, – John McCrae’s poem “In Flanders fields the poppies blow/Between the crosses, row on row . . .” is unforgettably evocative. Forgetting the Irish dead in the first World War is an act of moral cowardice. Yet, I feel uncomfortable about wearing the British Legion poppy over my breast because it has become a symbol of British nationalism alongside the Union flag. Neither can I wear an Easter lily which is the Irish nationalist equivalent.
The poppy is, however, a powerful symbol of the horrors of war that has been given many different shapes around the world. To remember Armistice Day, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of November, and salute our fallen forefathers, Irish Army veterans should commission a local poppy design, perhaps incorporating a version of the Lions crest, the last remaining non-contentious symbol from days gone by. Proceeds of a poppy appeal should go to help support the welfare of Irish Army veterans of overseas tours of duty. – Yours, etc,