A Floral Tribute in Honor of Veterans Day

“A rose is a rose is a rose” especially if it happens to be the Peace Rose. But, do you know the story behind this popular flower? Surprisingly, I knew little about this rose which is recognized as one of the world’s favorite hybrids with more than a hundred million plants sold world-wide. But my interest and understanding expanded when I was in East Tennessee celebrating my 50th college reunion with several girlfriends.

As we each shared stories, one friend talked about a program she had presented on the Peace Rose. While I knew she grew roses and had started a Rose Club at The Villages in Florida, I did not realize that she was a Master Rosarian. This prestigious designation awarded by the American Rose society is reserved for “the most knowledgeable and active people in the American Rose Society who have made outstanding contributions over a significant period of time.” Not only did I learn something unique about my friend, but I also learned about the rose’s connection to WWII and its recent designation as a Forever Stamp.

So in recognition of Veteran’s Day and the 101th Anniversary of Armistice Day, I asked my master rosarian friend, Nancy Stout to explain how it became the Peace Rose.

“This beautiful and outstanding Hybrid Tea is probably the most famous rose in the world. It has often been titled ‘The Rose Of The 20th Century.’ The history of ‘Peace’ and how it came about is a fascinating story.

In 1935 the French rose breeder Francis Meilland chose fifty seedlings from his seed beds. One of these he labeled 3-35-40. Over the next few years Francis watched its development with interest and planned to launch the new rose as ‘Madame Antoine Meilland’ in memory of his mother.

However, a few months later Hitler invaded France and the future of the rose nursery looked dire. To ensure that the new rose was not lost forever, Francis managed to get three parcels of budwood out of the country, one of which was smuggled in a diplomatic bag on the last plane out of France. The budwood was sent to another rose breeder, Robert Pyle, in Pennsylvania.

Over the next few years Francis introduced his new rose in France as ‘Madame Antoine Meilland’. He was unaware that some of the budwood had reached Germany and Italy and the rose was being sold under different names. In Germany it was called ’Gloria Dei’ and in Italy it was being sold as ‘Gioia’ (Joy).

Francis had not received any word from America and had no idea about the fate of his rose in that part of the world. It was not until the liberation of France in 1944 when he finally heard from Robert Pyle. The rose had survived the war and was being grown very successfully.

Its new name ‘Peace’ was publicly announced in America by Robert Pyle on April 29, 1945. On this day Berlin fell which was officially considered the end of the WWII in Europe. Then toward the end of 1945, Peace Roses were given to all of the delegates at the inaugural meeting of the United Nations in San Francisco. Each flower came with this entreaty, “We hope the ‘Peace’ rose will influence men’s thoughts for everlasting world peace”.

While Francis Meilland died in 1958, the family continued to breed roses and is still one of the most successful and highly revered rose dynasties in the world today.

After ‘Peace’ became so well known around the world, Francis wrote in his diary: “How strange to think that all these millions of rose bushes sprang from one tiny seed no bigger than the head of a pin, a seed which we might so easily have overlooked, or neglected in a moment of inattention.”

In April of 2018, the United States Postal Service issued 400 million Forever Stamps featuring the Peace Rose. What a powerful way to spread the hope for peace!”

A special thanks to my friend Nancy for sharing her knowledge and deep love for roses and for making us aware of the Peace Rose’s connection to WWII.

While stamps and roses cannot ensure peace in today’s troubled world, we must still work together within our families and communities to model and promote peace. Also, we must not forget the brave men and women who have defended our freedoms over the past 101 years.

So to celebrate Veterans Day, I encourage you to participate in one of the local Veterans Day activities and remember to thank these veterans for their service. In addition, you might offer them a rose along with the story about the Peace Rose. As you do, I hope you will pause briefly to savor the sweet aroma of the rose and think about the unlikely evolution of the Peace Rose. May this rose forever remain a potent symbol of peace.