Tuesday, November 11

Remembrance Day - Lest We Forget


In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; in land and 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 the 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

Author John McCrae

Significance of the words in the poem

"In Flanders Fields" was written by Canadian doctor John McCrae on May 13, 1915. As dawn crept over the eastern sky, John watched the horrific scenes of a battle unfold. Men were dying by the hundreds.

John noticed that though the guns barked and men screamed, the larks were still flying overhead, singing bravely. He looked across Flanders fields and noticed the field was thick with scarlet poppies. John quickly penned the poem.

John's poem holds many images of battle. The red poppies symbolizes the blood that was shed. The crosses tell of the sacrifice given by the soldiers. The larks singing amidst the roaring of the guns give us contrast. Dawn and sunset represent life and death.

John's poem sails across our imaginations, creating realistic images that we can relate to. A great tribute to all those who gave their lives.

Fast Facts:
"In Flanders Fields" was published in Punch, a British newspaper, on December 8, 1915. Today, it is used in celebrations of remembrance all over the world.

An interesting fact about this poem is that John threw it away. A friend of his picked it up and submitted it to publishers.

Flanders was named after the farmer who owned the fields where the soldiers were fighting. His name was Flanders. There were no poppies there until the tanks churned up the soil. This is how poppies are germinated - by churning up the soil.

McCrae House, the home of John McCrae, located in Guelph, Ontario, is now a museum. Click on the link to visit the website.

Wear a poppy on November 11th. Shake the hand of a veteran and thank him/her for their sacrifice. For without their sacrifice we would not live in freedom.

God Bless all veterans and the deployed soldiers who are fighting today.

For more information on the 90th Anniversary of the end of WWI, be sure to visit Ruth at Body, Soul and Spirit.

18 comments:

  1. Mary,Amen! I posted something a day early for Veterans day my self. it is in between a Monday Music and a rant.

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  2. I really want to visit the McCrae house in Guelph. I also try to attend the ceremonies each year in our community. Last year I went to Galt for a change and it was a very moving service.

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  3. Little did he know how much his poem would affect people and how it would become THE Remembrance Day poem!! I didn't realize that his house was in Guelph...I must include that in one of our trips! lol xoxo

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  4. Mary .. If I mail a card tomorrow will it get there in time? I do really want to have a card in that package! Let me know!

    Hugs

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  5. I ran across this poem today while looking for Veteran's Day related info...so interesting to get the details behind this moving poem!

    I just posted about Veteran's Day too...

    (BTW,I will try to have my girls mail their cards to you tomorrow for the servicewoman! Hopefully they will reach you by the 15th...sorry we were late with this!)

    Blessings,
    ~Tammy

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  7. This is so ironic, I was reciting this poem from memory just yesterday!!! After working on just half of my Veteran's tribute, I was thinking of this and the 'poppies'...then, by knowing it, and loving this work, I came out of the computer room and was reciting it to Bud [he likes it too!].

    It's a powerful message in there.

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  8. Mary, I am so sorry. I am not going to make that deadline for the card for your soldier after all. However, I can make it in time for a Christmas one. :)

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  9. That is beautiful. I am so grateful to the men who served and who have died for our country.

    God bless you!

    sharon

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  10. I like the sound of "Remembrance Day" - Linds also used that phrase and I finally realized what she meant.

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  11. Mary, this is the most beautiful tribute I've seen all day! Thanks so much for sharing this with us!

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  12. I was in Gueph once with Jim on business. I wish I had known this then. I have heard of Flanders Field but didn't know the story. The poppies are sold by scouts in the US to raise money for veterans. We placed one inside Daddy's casket. However, I never had heard this poem or realized the significance.
    Thanks, Mary
    Mama Bear

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  13. Lovely remembrance post … Amen!
    Hugs and blessings,

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  14. VERY nice!! I never knew all of that so interesting to learn...

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  15. Hi Mary, thanks for sharing this news filled article.. I did not know that story about the poppies...I used to see them being sold around town, but not as much anymore..We do have our freedom to be thankful for because of our military...God bless all of them!!! Baba

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  16. A very nice post and the one above too.

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