No more poppies: Onion emerges as new symbol to honour all victims of the Great War

No more poppies: Onion emerges as new symbol to honour all victims of the Great War
Credit: Pixabay / Belga

In a move towards a more inclusive commemoration of the Great War, the red poppy, a long-standing symbol of remembrance, is set to have a new companion in the Westhoek region.

The purple ornamental onion, a vibrant and symbolic flower, will soon grace memorial sites to recognise not only military victims but also civilian casualties from diverse national backgrounds.

Around 50,000 ornamental onions, also known as alliums, will be planted across approximately thirty memorial sites in the coming weeks, commemorating not just military victims but all those affected by the war, irrespective of their nationality.

Supporters say that introducing the ornamental onion does not diminish the significance of the poppy. Historian Dominiek Dendooven, from the In Flanders Fields Museum, told reporters that the poppy, while a powerful symbol, is closely associated with Commonwealth countries, making it less neutral. Other symbols like the cornflower for the French, the forget-me-not for the Germans, or the daisy for the Belgians often go unnoticed.

Dendooven argues that the introduction of a neutral, all-encompassing memorial flower aligns with a growing desire for inclusive remembrance. Over the past decade, there has been a shift towards recognising all victims of the war.

The choice of the ornamental onion also aligns with a more directed and marketed approach to remembrance. Unlike the unpredictable growth of poppies, ornamental onions can be planted with precision, making them a suitable vehicle for sending a message of remembrance to those who pass by these cemeteries.

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Remarkably, all local authorities and cemetery administrators, including the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the French Embassy, and the Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge, support the introduction of the ornamental onion as a new commemorative flower. Only the Belgian War Heritage Institute continues to endorse the daisy as a symbol around Belgian military cemeteries.

Dendooven suggests that this move is not about replacing one symbol with another but rather about acknowledging the diverse flowers that represent different nations and perspectives. He dismisses the notion that the ornamental onion will become the dominant symbol, akin to "one flower to rule them all," in the Tolkien sense.

Across the English Channel, the red poppy, too, faces scrutiny for its political associations. While it remains a symbol of remembrance for many, critics argue that it carries militaristic connotations. In the United Kingdom, discussions often arise regarding the political implications of wearing the poppy.

As the purple ornamental onion takes its place alongside the red poppy, the landscape of remembrance continues to evolve, striving to honour all those affected by the Great War and ensuring that their sacrifices are never forgotten.


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