In Flanders Fields

[Holden_C04]

Remembrance day is approaching in Canada and the UK, as well as similar holidays in many other parts of the world, and I thought I would do my part by posting this poem by a Canadian soldier named John McCrae. He served in both the Boer War near the turn of the century, as well as World War One.

For more information about John McCrae, please visit this link:

Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae - Veterans Affairs Canada

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch, be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields

[Holden_C04]

The lack of response certainly gives rise to the idea that people have forgotten about their veterans and their history. Patriotism when it's convenient...

[norahcrv]

I wear my poppy proudly, though it does not seem to hold the same meaning for Americans as it did for me growing up.

I remember the assemblies in school where we would stop & have a minute of silence at 11 a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month in remembrance of those who had given their lives that we might live in freedom.

Thank you to all of them & to you for remembering & reminding us.

[Picus]

Originally Posted by Holden_C04

The lack of response certainly gives rise to the idea that people have forgotten about their veterans and their history. Patriotism when it's convenient...

I'm not sure many people check this forum. I don't very often. Every male in my immediate family has served as far back as we can trace.

Hey Tyler - have you ever been to the local vet hospital (Christie & Davenport)? The vets there love to have visitors and you'll hear a lot of really good stories.

[ramtough]

I was 2months old in 1965 when my father won silver star. The same time he was killed I honor all vets. I did my 8 years in the marines .

[Eliot Ness]

That's a pretty interesting bit of history on John McCrae, thanks for sharing.

Freedom and our vets are something I hope no one takes for granted. I was stationed at Clark AFB when the POW's came home and that was their first stop. I'll never forget watching them hoot and holler out the bus windows in route to the base hospital for finally being on free soil.



The wife of a fellow we worked with had been wearing a POW bracelet. As to be expected the POW's were pretty closely guarded at the base hospital. When they learned that the POW on her bracelet was there they let her visit and give it to him, that was a pretty emotional time for us all.

[Blade9]

Thanks for that, Holden_C04.