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Forget me not

Forget me not
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By: Vinod Chandrashekhar Dixit

Never throughout history has a man who lived a life of ease left a name worth remembering. 10th November is a day to ensure that we really won’t forget.

‘Forget Me Not Day’ has been around since World War I, although it’s often lost in the hustle and bustle of preparing for Thanksgiving. Charles Spurgeon English particular Baptist preacher said “A good character is the best tombstone.

Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble.”When each war ends, many soldiers who returned wounded would require longer care to recover.

During the 1920s there were not many organizations and services that supported the wounded soldiers. Thus Judge Robert S. Marx, who fought as a soldier in World War I, found a spark for the forget-me-not day when he was wounded on November 10th, 1918. Although there is a common misconception that Forget Me Not Day pertains to people losing touch with one another, it’s actually a day meant for us to celebrate our troops.

The day serves to honour all past and current United States Military veterans who bear the permanent scars of battle. The days is dedicated to all past and present US military veterans who have been permanently scarred by battle. The day was called Forget-Me-Not Day and funds were raised by selling forget-me-nots.

The first published occurrence of this day was on December 17, 1921. Forget Me Not Day as we know it was established following World War I, when Judge Robert S. Marx, himself a WWI veteran, declared the holiday in honor of veterans who had suffered physical losses in the line of battle — those who had lost limbs, blood, and other integral body parts.

Since Robert S. Max was a law practitioner before joining WWI as a soldier, he continued practicing Law after his recovery. Soon, Robert S. Marx was chosen Judge, and his interest in the military veterans’ affairs was seen afront. He was seen making speeches and raising funds for this cause.

The Forget-Me-Not flower stands as the symbol for National Forget Me Not Day. It grows in open, rocky places and the mountain areas of Alaska. Forget-Me-Not the day is reminiscent of the Great War. Wounded soldiers returned at the time, requiring long-term care after the conflict finished.

While the situation of wounded veterans was not new, there were no services available to meet their needs. In addition, the administration was unprepared for the large number of wounded soldiers who returned. There were few programmes and organisations available to offer veterans the care and support they required.

In 1921, a campaign to commemorate and provide assistance to returning soldiers began in earnest. And it all started with a single injured soldier. Forget-me-nots represent true love and giving someone this flower means you truly love and respect this person. It is a testament to your relationships and promises the other person that you will never forget them in your thoughts. A symbol of fidelity and being truthful to someone you love.

Let us send forget me not flowers to our loved ones as a simple way to show them how much they mean to us.

(The author hails from Jodhpur Tekra, Ahmedabad)


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