Many are familiar with the imagery and meaning of the poem, ‘In Flander’s Fields’. It describes a veritable blanket of poppies blooming in the resting place of those whose lives were lost during their service in the armed forces, and a promise to never forget. Since the end of World War I, those bright, red poppies have become a symbol of remembrance and respect worn across the globe on Nov. 11.
    This year, a group of local individuals are inviting members of the Neepawa community to band together and take a hands-on approach. This is a collaborative community art project known as ‘The Poppy Project’. Inspired by similar projects in other towns and cities, such as Minnedosa, all are being invited to contribute to making Neepawa’s own ‘poppy blanket’.
    “When I first saw [the poppy blanket at the Minnedosa cenotaph], I had to stop the car and go have a look at it, because it’s stunning,” said Susan Phillips, a member of the organizing group. “It can’t help but attract attention, because it’s these bright, red poppies and it’s big– a big display. Also, you may have seen pictures of the display they did in Winnipeg. That group made a big, long, like a red carpet, and had it displayed from the third level of the legislature, down through the space and along the stairs.”
    Phillips added, “I realized there’s lots of small cities and towns across the country that have done this… I thought ‘Well maybe there’s enough people in Neepawa interested in being part of this project that we could do one ourselves. It can start small and can keep growing, because we can add more to it year after year.”
    For the project, people are invited to knit or crochet poppies using any shade of red wool, and a pattern provided by The Poppy Project’s organizers.