A close-knit community effort honors American veterans.

Between 1914 and 1918, 1 million soldiers from dozens of countries were killed and wounded in the Flanders region of Belgium and France during World War I. Canadian Lt. Col. John McCrae witnessed the death of his friend, Alexis Helmer, during one of these battles in the spring of 1915. Mourning his friend, McCrae was inspired by a beautiful scene of the bright red wild poppies blooming among the graves that stretched across the war-torn land. He penned a poem “In Flanders fields” to commemorate those who lost their lives and uses the poppies to portray the conflicting emotions brought on by war, the sorrow of loss, and the hope for peace. The poem has become a widely recognized symbol of the sacrifices made by soldiers. The opening line of the poem is particularly poignant and has become associated with Remembrance Day commemoration ceremonies.

In Flanders Fields, the poppies blow,
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved and now we lie
in Flanders fields

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw,
The torch; be yours to hold it high,
If ye break faith with us who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
in Flanders fields.

“In Flanders Fields” skyrocketed in popularity after being published in December 1915, and its reference to the poppy made the red-hued wildflower an instant worldwide symbol of remembrance. For more than a century, countries all over the world honor military personnel of the past and present on a designated day, often gifting or wearing poppies. On November 11, the United Kingdom and Canada celebrate Remembrance Day. The United States celebrates Veterans Day on November 11 and Memorial Day in May. Poppies are also a major symbol of ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) Day, which takes place on April 25. 

It was during a trip to Australia in May 2023 that Nick Rackers, a Jefferson City Evening Rotary Club member, connected with members of the Rotary Club of Mt. Warning AM Murwillumbah and learned of Poppies on Parade, a temporary art installation created to honor past and serving ANZAC military forces by covering the city’s bridge in handmade poppies. 

When Nick returned stateside, he pitched the project to the Jefferson City Rotary Clubs as a community project. For a project to be accepted, it should touch at least one of the seven areas of focus in Rotary’s mission.  

“Peace and conflict resolution is one of those areas of focus,” Nick says. “We remember those who sacrificed and can honor them with this display, but we hope for and work for a world where armed conflicts aren’t necessary. Rotary creates a positive peace in communities.” 

When he received the green flag to complete the project, Nick’s next challenge was to figure out where and how to make it happen. Nick notes that club members desired a similar feel to the Mayor’s Christmas Tree at Rotary Centennial Park.  

“We wanted something the whole community could see and experience,” Nick says. “Who better to include in community experiences than JC Parks?” 

Nick sent the JC Parks staff a link to the Australian Rotary Club’s project and the message: “It’s gonna take some planning and permission and a lot of crocheting and knitting…but how cool would this look on the Bicentennial Bridge on Veterans Day?” 

Turns out, the Bicentennial Bridge at Deborah Cooper Park on Adrian’s Island was the perfect location. The bridge’s entrance is steps away from the Missouri State Capitol’s Veterans Memorial, and within the memorial, “In Flanders Fields” is carved in a small monument just south of the bridge’s entrance. 

“We wanted something the whole community could see and experience.”

Nick Rackers, Jefferson City Evening Rotary Club

Things moved quickly. Within two weeks, Nick and Leann Porrello, JC Parks’ cultural arts program manager, teamed up to take measurements, create an awareness campaign, and plan community outreach.  The LINC and the Missouri River Regional Library, both the main library and Osage branch, volunteered as poppy drop-off sites. Leann also hosted poppy-making demos and classes at the library, Capital Arts Gallery, Heisinger Bluffs, Stonebridge Senior Living, and Capital Region Medical Center. Nick’s far reach in the Rotary community had poppies being sent from Missouri, California, Florida, Arizona, Iowa, and even Australia. 

Rotary members then gathered in early November to tie 1,600 hand-made poppies to the bridge’s gutter guard. The resulting 215 feet of poppy garland was enough to cover seven of the 20 arches over the bridge.  

One of Nick’s most memorable moments of the project was coming around the corner after the installation to see the vibrancy of the color. 

“I Facetimed one of my mates in Australia to show her,” Nick says. “She was so excited to see it happen here. She had dropped my name on a local radio station that morning regarding the project, so we might already have international media coverage!” 

Nick and JC Parks are excited to see “Poppies to the Park” grow every year. An estimated 10,000 knitted or crocheted poppies are needed to cover all 21 arches and railings of the bridge.  

Those who want to help should visit jcparks.com/event/poppies-to-the-park for project details.