Today is Remembrance Day in Canada. Today is the day that we pause to remember all that those that have fallen in war and military operations. The poppy is a visual reminder to remember and be thankful.Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, a Canadian soldier stationed in Ypres, Belgium in 1915 during WWI, wrote the now famous "In Flander's Fields" after his fellow soldier and friend died. In his grief and as he observed wild poppies growing amongst the wooden crosses of fallen comrades in makeshift graves, he penned the poem in 15 minutes to describe the sights and sounds around him. Through his words, the poppy became the symbol for soldiers who died in battle.
Today in Canada, we pause for 2 minutes of silence at 11 a.m. to remember. Your death was not in vain and we are forever grateful.
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.
John McCrae
"A Pittance in Time" A hauntingly beautiful song written and sung by Canadian Terry Kelly to encourage us to pause and take a moment to remember. It was written in 1999, when Terry observed a situation that occured in a Shopper's Drug Mart on Remembrance Day.
8 comments:
How beautiful.
Remembering with you...
What a beautiful tribute to a fallen soldier, Susanne. I think your Remembrance Day is the same thing as our Memorial Day.
I'll tell you, one visit to a military cemetery, like the one where my mother and I went to visit my brother Jerry this week, will open a person's eyes. It is truly unbelievable how many brave people in the military actually make the ultimate sacrifice for us.
We should make all 365 days in the year Remembrance Day.
A beautiful post.
Beautiful post.
I had never read this poem before. The older I get, the more I appreciate the sacrifices made so that I can live the way I do now, with all of my freedoms. Thanks for the new experience in that poem.
Just beautiful. Today we are celebrating Veteran's Day. A day to remember and pray for all the people in the armed forces who are serving or have served our nation.
Yes, a day to remember and be grateful for what they've done for us....we have Veteran's Day here today. Our school has used that poem for years for programs, a really good one!
Susanne, I truly enjoyed that video. If enjoyed is the right word....you know what I mean.
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