THE CANADIAN POPPY: A SYMBOL OF REMEMBRANCE

By Matthew Noguez 

This past Friday on Military Appreciation Night, the Bloomington Bison celebrated their first home win in franchise history as they defeated the Kalamazoo Wings by a 3-1 score. Throughout the night, the Bison organization made sure to incorporate and pay tribute to the servicemen and women of this nation.

Coordinated by Head Coach Phillip Barski, the Bison coaches wore a special emblem on the bench — a small red poppy. Known as the “Canadian Poppy,” this symbol holds deep meaning, representing honor, sacrifice, and remembrance for veterans. Particularly in Canada but also across the Commonwealth. 

The tradition of wearing the poppy traces back to World War I and is rooted in the iconic poem In Flanders Fields, written by Canadian soldier and physician Lt. Col. John McCrae. The poppy became a poignant symbol after McCrae observed the resilient flowers blooming across the battlefields of Europe, where soldiers had given their lives for the freedom of ours. For Canadians and others, wearing a poppy every November honors these sacrifices, symbolizing gratitude for those who served and acknowledging the peace they fought to protect.

For the Bison, the poppy holds even deeper meaning as it connects directly to their players and captain, Eddie Matsushima. His father-in-law, Wayne Haglund, is a U.S military veteran, making this tribute even more personal for Matsushima and the team. For the team it’s a shared recognition of bravery and a reminder of the connections between sports and service. 

Haglund did 13 weeks of boot camp in the Marines, nearly three months of truck driving training and four years of reserves. He was 18 years old when he began his service. 

“I’m proud that I served and would do it again,” Haglund commented. “It’s not for everyone but I think it’s a good career for some.” 

The specialty camouflage jerseys were not the only way the team was highlighting servicemen and women for Military Appreciation Night. Prior to the game James Auten, an Air National Guard veteran, sang the national anthem as the Central Illinois Veteran Warriors presented the Garrison Flag during the performance. A Color Guard presentation was on display by the Illinois State University ROTC. All of which led up to the ceremonial puckdrop by Bill Coash who was a Sergeant in the Marines. Coash served three combat tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan and is a Purple Heart recipient. He dropped the puck in memory of a Medal of Honor recipient from his VFW that recently passed away. 

To conclude the night, fans participated in a live-auction in pursuit of the game-worn specialty jerseys. Part of the proceeds of the auction were donated to Veterans Maintenance Solutions reaching over $2,500.