Remembrance Day

At church last year we learned about Remembrance Day. It's just like our Veterans Day, but British, and is commemorated by bright, red poppies people wear on their lapels. The significance of the poppy flower comes from the WWI poem I've attached below. I love this poem, and thought it was a nice choice for a Veterans Day post.

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.


Here's a picture of my favorite veteran. He's second from the left, and kind of looks like me (because he's my dad). I've got a few other favorites... my grandfather, Ryan's grandfather, and my two uncles, one of which is preparing for another tour in Afganistan as we speak. I'll be picking up a few extra poppies this Sunday.