Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day.  It's easy to remember the time we are to take time to remember; that is, the eleventh day of the eleventh month at the eleventh hour, or November 11th at 11:00 a.m.

I am so grateful to the veterans that fought and died and those who fought and lived to tell the tale. They will forever have a place of gratitude and remembrance in my heart. Let us never forget their sacrifices.

When I was in grade school, our school used to broadcast a program over the public address system every Remembrance Day.  Our teacher would place a cross at the front of the classroom. On top of the cross she would place a soldier's helmet and some poppies.  She would read from soldier's war journals to give us a sense of what the soldiers were dealing with on the battlefield.  The principal would play a narration of the famous poem by John McCrae for the entire school and we would all stand in our respective classrooms for a minute of silence and the playing of the bugle call.  I believe the bugle call played was  "Taps" though am not 100% certain.

The poem "In Flanders Fields" has always touched me. I am sharing it with you now in the hopes it touches you too. Right now there are many on the battlefields. Let us remember them and those that have gone before so that we can live in a free land.

In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

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.

Photo info: Poppies on the Downs at Winton, near Alfriston by Rosie Hibbs, from http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/leisureandtourism/pictures/poppies.htm

5 comments:

Ginny Hartzler said...

What an intersting and touching school memory. I have always loved the poppy poem, and your picture to go with it is stunning!

Joyful said...

Thank you GINNY. I was always very touched by what my school did to remember the veterans and it made a lasting impact in my life. I love poppies too and I agree that the photo of the field of poppies is stunning in a sea of red. I hope you have a lovely Remembrance/Armistace Day.

Kilauea Poetry said...

"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"..wow- this was so haunting and deep!! The idea of being read those journals is incredible- what a blessing! The photo is striking! Hope you have a wonderful weekend-:)

Sarah said...

Beautiful!! xox Im sorry i dotn stop by more often!!

Joyful said...

Beautiful!! xox Im sorry i dotn stop by more often!!

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