Remembrance Day - Wear a poppy.
I know I am a day late, Remembrance Day is the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month of each year. It is a day we, the living, remember those who fell in the wars.
If you are wondering, what is Remembrance day, read on, and an answer will be provided. If have on you any Canadian currency, take a look on the back of a 10 dollar bill, you’ll find the words of ‘In Flanders field’.
In Flanders Field.
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.
- John McCrae
In Flanders field is one of the most recognized Remembrance Day Poem, not only does it describe how horrific it was on the war front, it was written by a person who saw it first handed. However, that might not be as emotionally moving to some. Nor would the story and reason to why we should wear a poppy be obvious.
If you are one of those readers,
then you you must stay and linger.
Read on and you’ll understand,
why at the 11th hour the world must stand.
This is a poem I was taught while I was a youngster,
till this day, I still clearly remember.
The author explains in a briefly way,
to why we wear a poppy today!
Why Wear a Poppy.
“Please wear a poppy,” the lady said,
And held one forth, but I shook my head.
Then I stopped and watched as she offered them there,
And her face was old and lined with care;
But beneath the scars the years had made
There remained a smile that refused to fade.
A boy came whistling down the street,
Bouncing along on care-free feet.
His smile was full of joy and fun,
“Lady,” said he, “may I have one?”
When she’d pinned it on, he turned to say;
“Why do we wear a poppy today?”
The lady smiled in her wistful way
And answered; “This is Remembrance Day.
And the poppy there is a symbol for
The gallant men who died in war.
And because they did, you and I are free -
That’s why we wear a poppy, you see.
I had a boy about your size,
With golden hair and big blue eyes.
He loved to play and jump and shout,
Free as a bird, he would race about.
As the years went by, he learned and grew,
And became a man - as you will, too.
He was fine and strong, with a boyish smile,
But he’d seemed with us such a little while
When war broke out and he went away.
I still remember his face that day.
When he smiled at me and said, ‘Goodbye,
I’ll be back soon, Mum, please don’t cry.’
But the war went on and he had to stay,
And all I could do was wait and pray.
His letters told of the awful fight
(I can see it still in my dreams at night),
With the tanks and guns and cruel barbed wire,
And the mines and bullets, the bombs and fire.
Till at last, at last, the war was won -
And that’s why we wear a poppy, son.”
The small boy turned as if to go,
Then said, “Thanks, lady, I’m glad to know.
That sure did sound like an awful fight
But your son - did he come back all right?”
A tear rolled down each faded cheek;
She shook her head, but didn’t speak
I slunk away in a sort of shame,
And if you were me, you’d have done the same:
For our thanks, in giving, if oft delayed,
Though our freedom was bought - and thousands paid!
And so, when we see a poppy worn,
Let us reflect on the burden borne
By those who gave their very all
When asked to answer their country’s call
That we at home in peace might live.
Then wear a poppy! Remember - and Give!
Don Crawford
Thank you.
Thank you brave souls, for your gift of life.
Its just sad our leaders are still lost as mice.
Death itself should not and never be feared,
but merely those behind that steered.
Why can we never eliminate war?
Because, I tell you, power corrupts all!
-Samson
