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.— Lt.-Col. John McCrae
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.— Lt.-Col. John McCrae
Remember to thank the veterans around you for serving our country. We owe them so much.
Remembrance Day: November 11 was set aside in commemoration of the end of hostilities in 1918 and 1945.
The poem "In Flanders Fields" was written after Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918) Canadian Army, witnessed the death, and presided over the funeral, of a friend, Lt. Alexis Helmer. By most accounts it was written in his notebook and later rejected by McCrae. Ripped out of his notebook, it was rescued by a fellow officer, Francis Alexander Scrimger, and later published.
ReplyDeleteI just finished watching our memorial service in Ottawa....always chokes me up..big time.
Wow. I didn't know that. Thanks for sharing the history behind the poem. I wasn't aware he was part of the Canadian Army. What a tribute to all vets. I'm glad it was rescued and published.
ReplyDelete