KANSAS CITY, Mo. — One hundred and seventeen poppies now fill the reflection pool at the World World I Museum and Memorial. Each one symbolizes 1,000 service men and women who died in the Great War.
Poppies were the first flowers to grow around soldiers’ graves in Belgium.
“Each one is hand folded; the steel is bent. My husband and I bent each one, so each one is individual, just like a real poppy," said Ada Koch, the creator of the art installation titled, "Relations of Hope: Armistice 1918.”
Koch said she was inspired by the museum.
"This museum has a great motto of remembering those who sacrificed for this country, but also learning from that, what happened in the Great War, and I'm all about that," said Koch.
This year will mark 100 years since the agreement to stop fighting in World War I.
"Every inhabited continent of the globe was caught up in World War I. It transformed the world. On November the 11th, at 11 o'clock in 1918 was the armistice. So, we are marking that here at the National World War I Museum and Memorial," said Matthew Naylor, President and CEO of the World War I Museum and Memorial.
It took hours to bring each poppy in and put them in their correct spots.
The exhibit is already drawing a crowd.
"They all have the courage and the ability to do something that I personally did not have the ability to do or the courage to do. That's something that they should be honored to have done," said Dan Koch, who visited the museum with his kids.
All to honor those who passed.
"I think it’s just a happy, joyful, meaningful and even poetic installation here at the World War I Museum," said Dawn Taylor, a volunteer who helped set up the art installation.
The Armistice poppies will be on display until November 11. They will be available to purchase through the museum at give@theworldwar.org
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