What do Red Poppies have to do with Memorial Day?

Have you ever seen ladies wearing red poppies on Memorial Day or an increase in red poppies on graves at certain times of the year?  If you have, that may be because red poppies are a symbol for our soldiers, particularly on Memorial Day.

Below is an excerpt from USmemorialDay.org about how red poppies came to be so popular on Memorial Day.

In 1915, inspired by the poem “In Flanders Fields,” Moina Michael replied with her own poem:

We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.

She then conceived of an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need. Later a Madam Guerin from France was visiting the United States and learned of this new custom started by Ms.Michael and when she returned to France, made artificial red poppies to raise money for war orphaned children and widowed women. This tradition spread to other countries. In 1921, the Franco-American Children’s League sold poppies nationally to benefit war orphans of France and Belgium. The League disbanded a year later and Madam Guerin approached the VFW for help. Shortly before Memorial Day in 1922 the VFW became the first veterans’ organization to nationally sell poppies. Two years later their “Buddy” Poppy program was selling artificial poppies made by disabled veterans. In 1948 the US Post Office honored Ms Michael for her role in founding the National Poppy movement by issuing a red 3 cent postage stamp with her likeness on it.

Source

Memorial Day

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day for Americans to honor our fallen soldiers.  Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 and first observed May 30, 1868.  It is always observed on the last Monday in May each year.

Memorial Day was first used to honor the fallen Union soldiers of the American Civil War, however, after WWI it was extended to honor all wars fought by American military.  Celebrations began with women decorating the graves of soldiers who had died while at war.

In December of 2000, the “National Moment of Remembrance” resolution was passed.  The resolution asks Americans “To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to ‘Taps” at 3:00 pm.

Today, the meaning of the holiday can be forgotten by the excitement of a 3 day weekend and the unofficial start of summer.  Although, celebrating by spending time with our loved ones, vacationing, and cook-outs are all good ways to celebrate…let’s always remember the reason for the holiday.  Visit the grave of a soldier, thank a solider or make sure to talk to your children about the brave men and women who serve our country every day.

If you live in the Powder Springs area, please come out to the Powder Springs Library, 4181 Atlanta Street, for a Memorial Day Ceremony.  The keynote speaker will be a 27 year veteran who spent 20 of those years in the Army Special Forces.

Source

Chocolate Chirpie Chip Cookies

Looking for a recipe to take to this weekend’s Memorial Day BBQ?  Look no further!!  We’ve got the perfect recipe for you!  We can assure that you’ll be the only one at the BBQ with these treats!

Chocolate Chirpie Chip Cookies

 

Ingredients:

  • 2 1/4 cup flour
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 12-ounce chocolate chips
  • 1 cup chopped nuts
  • 1/2 cup dry-roasted crickets

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375. In small bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt; set aside. In large bowl, combine butter, sugar, brown sugar and vanilla; beat until creamy. Beat in eggs. Gradually add flour mixture and insects, mix well. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by rounded measuring teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes.

Source: Iowa State University

You Asked, We Answered

At Northwest Exterminating, we are the leaders in GREEN pest control.  We want to be sure that your home is treated with the most up-to-date kid and pet friendly pest control that is available.  We recently invited you to ASK THE EXPERT.  Below is a question we got from one curious Northwest customer:

Northwest Customer:
Thank-you. I would like to see the ingredients that are in the product used on the home’s interior due to breathing issues of the people and creatures who live here.  Ingredients for the exterior would be great as well. 

Northwest Expert:
Hi, Thank you for the question. It’s important to be cautious about materials being used inside especially when a person claims “Green” practices. The products used in our industry have 2 different components: an active ingredient and an inert. The inerts often are propellants, or materials used as carrying agents for the active ingredient.  Why this is important to you is the actual amount of product you may be exposed to may only be a percentage of the applied material. So for example, a product mixed in water may have an applied amount of 4 ounces of finished material delivered to the application site, part of a gallon of mixed material. To obtain that mixed gallon a person would mix an ounce of ingredient to 127 ounces of water. That 1 ounce of material would have maybe 5 -10 drops of active chemical, the rest being mixers and stabilizers. In our example of 4 ounces of applied material the active may only be .33 drops, spread over an entire structure. I say all that to demonstrate that even with a traditional approach very little material may be involved, and to give you an idea of the safety factor that goes into even our traditional approach.

When using Green products we use Diatomaceous earth in a powder form, Essential oils such as Eugenol, Geraniol, Clove, and Thyme, Natural Pyrethrum, and sometimes a boric acid compound for specific insects.

Hope this helps,
Jerry Hatch.   

We hope this helps you to understand a little bit about what makes NorPest GreenGreen.  If you have any questions for our expert…email him at [email protected]

Armed Forces Day

Tomorrow we celebrate Armed Forces Day in the United States.  Armed Forces Day is celebrated each year on the third Saturday of May.  The day was created as a way to thank our nation’s military forces.  President Harry Truman proclaimed the first Armed Forces Day on May 20, 1950.

Before the official Armed Forces Day, each branch of the military celebrated with their own individual day.  Each military branch was asked to drop their individual service day and celebrate the new Armed Forces DayThe Marine Corps is the only branch who chooses to celebrate Marine Corps Day as well as Armed Forces Day.

Ways to Celebrate Armed Forces Day:

  • Check for military displays in your area
  • Various educational activities for children
  • “Support the Troops” motorcycle rides
  • Local parades or other celebrations
  • Attend an Armed Forces Day open house at a military base near you
  • Go to an Armed Forces Day Scout Blast at your local Boy Scout chapter
  • Visit and/or contribute to the preservation of a historic site near you
  • Volunteer
  • THANK A SOLDIER…on Armed Forces Day and everyday!

Northwest Exterminating would like to thank all of our brave men and women who have served in times of war and peace.  Thank you for your courage, bravery and the sacrifices you have given.

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