The small, blue forget-me-not flower was first used by the
Grand Lodge Zur Sonne, in 1926, as a Masonic emblem at the annual convention in
Bremen,
Germany. In 1938, a forget-me-not badge—made by the same factory as the Masonic badge—was chosen for the annual Nazi Party
Winterhilfswerk, the annual charity drive of the
National Socialist People's Welfare, the welfare branch of the Nazi party. This coincidence enabled
Freemasons to wear the forget-me-not badge as a secret sign of membership. After
World War II, the forget-me-not flower was used again as a Masonic emblem in 1948 at the first Annual Convention of the
United Grand Lodges of Germany. The badge is now worn in the coat lapel by Freemasons around the world to remember all who suffered in the name of Freemasonry, especially those during the Nazi era. The flower is also used as a symbol of remembrance by the people of
Newfoundland and Labrador. It is used to commemorate those from the province who were killed in the First World War, and worn around July 1. It is also used in Germany to commemorate the fallen soldiers of the world wars in a similar manner to the use of
remembrance poppies in the UK. The flower is also the symbol for the
Armenian genocide's 100th anniversary. The design of the flower is a black dot symbolising the past, and the suffering of Armenian people. The light purple appendages symbolise the present, and unity of Armenians. The five purple petals symbolise the future, and the five continents to which Armenians escaped. The yellow in the centre symbolises eternity, and the
Tsitsernakaberd itself symbolises the 12 provinces lost to Turkey. In
Lithuania, the flower has become one of the symbols for the commemoration of the
January events of 1991. In the Netherlands, the forget-me-not has become a symbol for Alzheimer Nederland, a foundation advocating for people suffering from
dementia. In New Zealand, the forget-me-not is the symbol for Alzheimers New Zealand, the foundation advocating for people suffering from Alzheimer's disease and dementia. In the United Kingdom, many health settings make use of the forget-me-not as a symbol to highlight that someone has dementia; it may be placed on notes, bedsides or patient boards. Also in the United Kingdom, the forget-me-not is the symbol of the
Alzheimer's Society. In the history of art, the forget-me-not is used to remember loved ones who have died, and so is very common in funerary portraits. Since the
Medieval period it has become a symbol of everlasting love and devotion. There is a German legend set as an origin story behind the name "Forget-Me-Not". In the legend, a knight was walking with his lady near the
Danube River and decided to pick blue flowers for her. While picking the flowers he fell in the river and was swept away. He tossed the flowers to his lady and his last words to her were "Forget-me-not!". ==References==