On the recordMay 19, 2004
What a fantastic way to recognize the veterans of all of our wars, but of course this, as we know, the wearing of the poppy, it all started after World War I... And what Dr. McCrae was saying to us and to future generations and to all generations was, never forget, no matter what battle it was, whether it was the Civil War or Operation Iraqi Freedom today, these young men and women are dying for a cause; and whether one agrees with them or not, they had no choice. In many cases, they were conscripted. Today, we have an all-volunteer military, but they are there defending our freedom, and many of them are paying the ultimate sacrifice. So that is what this poppy says.
Source
govinfo.gov




