Remembering Those Who Have Fallen
I grew up in Canada and have lived in 4 different countries on 3 different continents. Never have I lived somewhere, where poppies weren’t sold for Veteran’s Day until I moved to Maryland 20 years ago. It’s not that Veteran’s Day isn’t revered here, it’s just the American Legion doesn’t sell poppies as much here as they do elsewhere. I had a friend in Canada send me a poppy so I could proudly wear it on Remembrance Day and someone even asked me why was I wearing the red flower. I had to explain to them about the significance of the poppy.
So, in remembrance of those who have gone before us and paved the way for the freedom we have today I don my poppy and remember.
Thank you for your service and thanks to those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for those of us left behind. So, on November 11, lest we forget!
In Flanders Fields where 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
Written by John McCrae during the second battle of Ypres, Belgium
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