Happy Veteran's Day

Today, we officially recognize Veteran's Day in the United States of America (even though the holiday was actually yesterday, November 11, 2018 - see yesterday's post "The War to End All Wars").  So, first I would like to thank all of the veterans again.  We don't do enough to thank you for your incredible dedication, patriotism, commitment, and sacrifice. 


I thought I would send out one of my favorite poems, called "In Flanders Fields".  I first learned the poem in middle school, but I never really truly understood its significance until much later in life.  The poem is even more special this Veteran's Day, the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, because it was written by a Canadian physician, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, shortly after the Second Battle of Ypres during that same war.  McCrae was inspired to write the poem after presiding over the funeral of one of his good friends, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, who had died in the battle.


The poem talks about red poppies that grew over the graves of soldiers who lost their lives in the Second Battle of Ypres.  Reportedly, the battle so damaged the surface soil in the area that the poppy was one of the few plants able to grow there.  To this day, the poem is often associated with Veteran's Day (in the U.S.A.) and Remembrance Day (in Canada).  In fact, Canadians have been wearing the "remembrance poppy" on Remembrance Day since 1921.


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


Happy Veteran's Day - thank you for your service.