VOA慢速英语2018--华盛顿以花墙纪念阵亡将士

Wall of Flowers Honors True Meaning of Memorial Day

The National Mall in Washington, DC has something new for America’s Memorial Day holiday this year.

For three days, visitors can see a clear wall filled with red poppies. The flowers are to honor the men and women who died while serving the United States in conflicts since World War I.

Together, more than 645,000 red poppies are on the grounds of the National Mall this weekend.

John Bird is a retired¹ vice² admiral in the U.S. Navy and the vice president of military affairs at the financial business USAA. He explains the aim of the Poppy Memorial show.

“The purpose of this memorial is to educate Americans and everyone who have had service members die in defense³ of their country or the cause of freedom.”

Why poppies?

Bird told VOA that the poppy is an important symbol in many countries. It is often connected to the memory of someone who has fallen – or died – in military service.

The use of the poppy as a symbol dates back to a poem called “In Flanders Fields,” which was published in 1915. The verse⁴ was written by John McCrae of Canada. He served as a soldier in Europe during World War I.

McCrae wrote about the red flowers he saw growing on a field where many soldiers had died.

The poem was very popular at the time. But it took two women in the early 20th century to make the poppy a widely-recognized symbol.

In the United States, a University of Georgia professor decided⁵ she would wear a red silk flower to honor the sacrifice of soldiers. Moina Michael then persuaded a military veterans group to use the poppy as an emblem⁶ of remembrance.

In France, a woman named Anne Guérin urged French citizens to make and sell cloth poppies to raise money to repair the country after World War I. Then she worked to make red poppies an international symbol to honor veterans.

Today, the flowers are worn in France, Belgium, Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand on November 11.

In the United States, the flowers are more commonly worn on the last Monday in May, known as Memorial Day.

Remembering veterans

While Memorial Day is a U.S. federal holiday to remember the war dead, it has taken on other meanings, too.

It is considered the unofficial beginning of summer. Because most schools and many businesses are closed, Americans often spend the holiday outdoors, by preparing barbecue cookouts at home or going swimming.

And stores often advertise many Memorial Day sales.

But Admiral John Bird says the poppy memorial on the National Mall helps people remember the true meaning of the holiday. The day is especially important for anyone who knows a soldier who died, he adds. After all, he notes, when people enter military service “ultimately⁷ what they’re saying is, ‘I’m willing to put my life on the line ... to defend our country.’”

“So people who have served in uniform certainly get that, and Memorial Day is a way to remember those who had to make that ultimate sacrifice.”

The poppy memorial is on Washington’s National Mall from May 25 to 27. Visitors can also dedicate⁸ a virtual⁹ poppy online at poppyinmemory.com.

I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.

Words in this Story

symbol - n. an object that expresses or represents a particular idea or quality

verse - n. writing in which words are arranged in a rhythmic¹⁰ pattern : poetry

veteran - n. someone who fought in a war as a soldier, sailor, etc.

emblem - n. an object or picture used to suggest a thing that cannot be shown

barbecue - n. an outdoor meal or party at which food is cooked on a barbecue

ultimately - adv. at the most basic level : in the central or most important way

certainly - adv. without doubt

ultimate - adj. greatest or most extreme

dedicate - v. to officially make (something) a place for honoring or remembering a person, event, etc.

1 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

2 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

3 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

4 verse   

n.诗，韵文，诗行

参考例句：

• He is good at verse.他善于作诗。
• His book was in parts written in verse.他的书有许多地方是用韵文写的。

5 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

6 emblem   

n.象征，标志；徽章

参考例句：

• Her shirt has the company emblem on it.她的衬衫印有公司的标记。
• The eagle was an emblem of strength and courage.鹰是力量和勇气的象征。

7 ultimately   

adv.最后地，最终地，首要地，基本地

参考例句：

• It was a demeaning and ultimately frustrating experience.那是一次有失颜面并且令人沮丧至极的经历。
• Vitamin C deficiency can ultimately lead to scurvy.缺乏维生素C最终能道致坏血病。

8 dedicate   

vt.献身，致力于，把（时间、精力等）用于

参考例句：

• She vowed to herself that she would dedicate her life to scientific studies.她默默地发誓要献身于科学研究。
• To my father I dedicate this volume in token of affection and gratitude.我谨以此书献给我的父亲，以表示对他的爱戴和感激之情。

9 virtual   

adj.实质上的，事实上的，实际上的

参考例句：

• This reply is a virtual acceptance of our offer.这一回答实质上是接受了我们的建议。
• At that time the East India Company was the virtual ruler of Bengal.那时东印度公司是孟加拉的实际统治者。

10 rhythmic   

adj.有节奏的，有韵律的

参考例句：

• Her breathing became more rhythmic.她的呼吸变得更有规律了。
• Good breathing is slow,rhythmic and deep.健康的呼吸方式缓慢深沉而有节奏。