Here’s why Jaguars, Cowboys are wearing red poppies on their jerseys
The Dallas Cowboys and Jacksonville Jaguars wore red poppies for their Sunday game in London.
Why?
It’s in recognition of Remembrance Day, the Nov. 11 holiday celebrated by the Commonwealth of Nations to honor the members of those countries’ armed forces who died in the line of duty. It fits in with the NFL’s “Salute to Service” weekend, which is being observed at NFL games in the United States.
The NFL isn’t the only league wearing the poppy during games. You might have seen NHL coaches wearing them on their suits this month as well.
Remembrance Day is similar to Veterans Day in the United States, and the red poppies are symbolic of the bloodshed in the fields of Flanders in Belgium, where the poppies bloomed where some of the bloodiest battles occured in World War I.
According to NFL communications, a number of jerseys will be sold on NFL Auction, with 100 percent of proceeds donated to the Poppy Appeal. The money raised by the Poppy Appeal supports the Legion’s work for the Armed Forces community.”
A very nice tribute indeed and a subtle but terrific nod to the NFL’s integration into England.
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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Eric_Edholm
