Lest we Forget

©iStockphoto.com/James Warren



Flander's Field

by John McCrae, May 1915 

 

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.

 

 

Lest we Forget

Every year at the beginning of November we start to see artificial poppies for sale. We buy a poppy because that's what we've been programmed to do, but when was the last time that you stopped to think about the significance of  Remembrance Day? November 11th marks the anniversary of the end of World War 1 (1918). Many soldier and civilian lives were lost during this massive conflict and many surviving soldiers were scarred. So this Remembrance day lets take a moment, or two, or three to remember and express our gratitude for the brave soldiers and veterans that fought for us. Support our survivors by purchasing a poppy.

 

Symbolism of the Poppy

Poppies grow very well in disturbed soil and they thrived in the battlefields. The red petals reminded people of the blood shed by our soldiers and innocent civilians.