Why Poppies and Daffodils ?
I come from a region in France where the word “war” carries a profound meaning. Lorraine has been deeply marked by the three major wars that devastated our country. Each conflict left behind destruction, human losses, and names etched in collective memory: Verdun, Gravelotte, Metz…
My family, like so many others, bears the scars of these tragedies.
In 1939, it was my grandfather Paul’s turn to be mobilized. He had just become a father himself. Taken prisoner, he was sent to Germany to work. It was only after his liberation by American soldiers and after six long years of mistreatment that he was reunited with his family. His son, who had never seen him before, called him “Mister.”
Although I have not experienced these painful events myself, I cannot help but draw a parallel with the war in Ukraine today. The relentless bombings, the destroyed cities, the murdered civilians, the soldiers buried in the trenches… Everything Ukraine is going through, France has once known.
Throughout my journey, I have also had the opportunity to meet soldiers and veterans wounded in recent conflicts. Their testimonies deeply moved me, especially their struggles to overcome the physical and psychological trauma of war. These encounters have strengthened my conviction that remembering past battles and supporting today’s survivors are essential to building a fairer and more compassionate world
This is why I created Poppies and Daffodils: to honor those who have sacrificed and to support those in need. Because remembrance and support are the foundations of a better future
Dominique Carricart