Memorial Day

I thought I would post something that reminds me of when I was little, in grade school. We used to observe Remembrance Day in Canada- on November 11, Veteran's' Day in the States. I remember wearing the poppy, and also remember reciting this poem every year with all my classmates. Back then, we went to School on Remembrance Day, and learned the reasons for observing such a solemn day.

Dedicated to all those who have given their lives, those who gave us their sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters. And also to those who have bravely kept passing the torch so we can be free. Thank you.

IN FLANDERS FIELD
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.

It was due to the poem “In Flanders Field” that Miss Moina Michael originated the
Flanders Memorial Poppy which has raised millions of dollars for veterans and their
families. Miss Michael became known to millions of World War I veterans as the
“Poppy Lady” and on 9 November 1918 she wrote the poem, We Shall Keep the Faith in
answer to the In Flanders Field poem.

WE SHALL KEEP THE FAITH
Oh! You who sleep in “Flanders Fields,”
Sleep sweet – to rise anew!
We caught the Torch you threw
And, holding high we keep the Faith.
With all who died.
We cherish, too, the poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led:
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.
But lends a lustre to the red
Of the flower that blooms above the dead
In Flanders Fields.
And now the Torch and Poppy red
We wear in honor of our dead.
Fear not that ye have died for naught;
We’ve learned the lesson that ye taught
In Flanders Fields.

To see photos of this beautiful cemetery in Belgium, please go here.