On May 24th Cobb Middle School will be using its unique extra Thursday Period to complete a very moving school wide activity designed to honor those fallen heroes of the War on Terror just in time for Memorial Day.
Inspired by the poem “In Flanders Field,” Cobb will create a “field” of honor to memorialize those lives lost over the past eleven years. Students will construct red poppies that symbolize the life and death of a fallen American soldier in the two primary theatres of the War on Terror; Iraq and Afghanistan. The poppies will be planted along a scenic pathway that runs through the heart of Cobb. To the somber tune of Taps, students will have an opportunity to walk through the pathway surrounded by the thousands of student created red poppies.
Cobb chose the Red Poppy as its memorial symbol in an attempt to tie the past to the present. The heroes lost before now guide those that have most recently fallen. Further, the red poppy has strong international symbolism (an ode to the coalition forces). The poems below further illustrate the significance of the use of the red poppy.
This moving visual memorial will hopefully serve to bring to light the enormous sacrifice of Americans in our Armed forces and inspire our students honor them in both life and death.
This activity will begin with a short video to teach the students about the importance of Memorial Day as well as the historical symbolism of the Red Poppy. Then Students will create on average of eight red poppies affixed to sticks that represent one fallen American servicemen. These poppies will then be placed in the pathway. Finally, in intervals, students will be released to walk through our “Field of Honor “and take vigil.
You can see more pictures from the event here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/55271105@N07/sets/72157629952474756/
