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Welcome to my Western Pennsylvania garden. Join me on a "Walk Down the Garden Path".

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Remember Our Veterans

In Flanders Fields

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.


Remember to honor our veterans today.

To all that are reading this who are currently serving or who have served in the military, you have my heartfelt thanks.



In the United States, Veterans Day is celebrated on November 11th, honoring all military veterans. It is also celebrated as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in other parts of the world, marking the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice which ended World War I at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. From 1919 - 1954 this day was known as Armistice Day in the United States, however in 1954 Congress passed an act changing Armistice to Veterans, in order to honor all veterans, not just World War I veterans. Information from Wikipedia.



18 comments:

F Cameron said...

Cindy,

Your tribute is lovely. Thank you for honoring our Veterans.

Cameron

tina said...

Absolutely perfect! Beautiful poem and beautiful picture to really make us remember. Have a super Day Cindy!

Dave said...

It'd a very important day and a very nice tribute to our vets!

Anonymous said...

Thank you! I'm a vet and my husband is retired AF. We also wish to thank everyone who is or was serving. I know so many and we will always need them.

Nola said...

Thank you for your lovely tribute. And thanks to all the veterans out there for my freedom!

Anonymous said...

I just remembered I wanted to tell you how lovely the Flander's field flowers were. That is a WW1 site that has been excavted in part isn't it? That was the trench war and Flander's Field is famous because the American's tunneled under ground to the enemies line. So many died in that war due to the Mustard gas. It is nice to see flowers growing where so many lost their lives. My great grandfather lost his life due to the Mustard gas.

Farmers in the area still find many of those old trenches. Fascinating.

Rose said...

A fitting tribute to the veterans, Cindy! I remember reading this poem and making posters about Flanders Field as a young girl in elementary school. It's still so appropriate, even though it was written about just WWI.

Cindy said...

Cameron ~ Thank you. I really enjoyed the story you had on your site.

Tina ~ you and your family have my upmost respect and thanks for all you do and have done for our country.

Dave ~ Thank you!

Anna ~ you have to be one of the most patriotic people I know. Your love of this country exudes from you and is so evident on your blog posts. I thank you and your husband for keeping me and mine free. I am so sorry about your Great Grandfather. Not that any war is not horrible, but WWI was especially so due to the chemical warfare that was used.

Rose ~ I had it in my mind to post this poem on Veteran's Day for a couple of months now. The beauty of that poem is so haunting and I would love to visit Flanders Field when the poppies are in bloom.

Cindy said...

Nola ~ I'm sorry I missed you! Thank you for stopping by. I found your Father's story very inspirational.

joey said...

A beautiful tribute, Cindy. I love Flanders poppies ... my dream to grow a field of them!

Gail said...

The poppies are fantastic...I would love to see them in bloom!

TC said...

It was my honor to serve folks like you Ms. Cindy.

U.S. Navy
STS3 (SS)
Mariano G. Vallejo
SSBN 685

Anonymous said...

Hi Cindy, I find this poem to be the most heart rending of all and the field of poppies the perfect accompaniment.
Frances

Roses and Lilacs said...

That is a wonderful poem. My father, who was a WWII veteran, said they used to teach it to all school children. He can still recite it after all these years.

He still calls it Armistice Day.
Marnie

Cindy said...

Joey ~ Oh, that would be something wouldn't it.

Gail ~ I have a few I have to move because they are now obstructed from my view by a forsythia and I hate to miss their show. I probably should have done that this fall, oh well, we'll move that task to spring.

Frances ~ It always amazes me how the simplicity of words can wield so much force.

TC ~ I did think of you on Veteran's Day and am glad that now I can thank you personally ~ Thank you!

Marnie ~ Yes I think to those who knew it first by Armistice Day it will always be. I wonder if they still teach this poem in schools today?

DP Nguyen said...

What a wonderful tribute!

Machelle said...

Oh, how I love this poem! I must have forgotten, it has been so many years since I last read it. Thank you for posting it in honor of our brave Heroes.

Cindy said...

DP ~ Thank you.

Machelle ~ I am so happy to have posted it so you could read it again. It is a favorite of mine.