I was thinking about the poppy just yesterday. On my 20 mile trip to work, I drive down two roads named after recently dead American servicemen. Now, I don't mean to be disrespectful to them or their sacrifice, but over here, the zeal with which a local Government will make claims on the memory of these people smacks more to me of local politicians trying to make their mark more than it does of a genuine respect.
I think the poppy is a perfect symbol that encapsulates the sacrifice made by all the veterans of needless wars, both killed or maimed. The poppy is, just, well, more classy than naming a road that will take a different name after a number of years and a few more wars.
The poppy is forever, and if one understands WHY it is a symbol, then it is much more thought provoking and respectful.
If a simple poppy can transform a comedy show like Blackadder goes Forth from a great comedy to an extremely poignant heart-stopping shock to the system in the final scene. Then it is working for me.