Armistice Day 2010
This beautiful poem was written
by a Canadian Medical Officer
Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae
Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae
In Flanders Fields
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 was a Canadian medical officer who,
in May 1915, had conducted the funeral service
of a friend, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer,
who died in the Second Battle of Ypres (Ieper).
Distressed at the death and suffering around him,
McCrae scribbled the verse in his notebook.
In a cemetery nearby, red poppies blew gently
in the breeze – a symbol of regeneration and
growth in a landscape of blood and destruction.
in May 1915, had conducted the funeral service
of a friend, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer,
who died in the Second Battle of Ypres (Ieper).
Distressed at the death and suffering around him,
McCrae scribbled the verse in his notebook.
In a cemetery nearby, red poppies blew gently
in the breeze – a symbol of regeneration and
growth in a landscape of blood and destruction.
Below is the memorial to the
New Zealand soldiers
who gave their lives
in France and Belgium in the 1st World War
in their fight
for our freedom.
We shall honour and remember them.
I'm sorry I'm a day late with this post..
Wishing you all a happy weekend
thank you dear friends
for your comments and
"be kind to one another".
Shane
Dear Shane,
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for sharing this lovely post and poem.
We shall always remember them.
Have a lovely weekend
Hugs
Carolyn
Lest We Forget.
ReplyDeleteA very beautiful and moving poem ~ It doesn't matter that it's a day late Shane ~ because it will always be relevant.
ReplyDeleteJe vous souhaite une bonne semaine.
Dianne xx
A beautiful poem and so important that we take the time to remember. Such a beautiful part of the world for such awful battles to have taken place.
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely weekend Shane:)
Lovely poem, it's important to remember.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your lovely comment on my blog, I will be back to visit yours again too! :) x
Shane,
ReplyDeleteA moving poem. I love poppies....maybe this is why! I'm a true blue flag waving patriot and loved the poem you posted. It gave me chills to read it and realize how true it is.
Thanks for coming by. Hope the garden is coming along nicely.
Hugs,
Jan
Hi Shane, That poem is in my first shabby book which I made in Carole's class. My book is about the 1st WW, do you remember? When a friend saw my book she pointed me to that poem. It fits so well.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a lovely weekend too.
Ati
A day late, no matter. We should all think about it every day. Wonderful post. You are welcome to see mine on Armistice day.xx
ReplyDeleteYou aren't a day late;
ReplyDeletewe should remember those
that gave the ultimate
sacrifice for our freedoms
each and every day. Gorgeous
picture, Shane! That poem
always gives me goose bumps.
Happy weekend,
xx Suzanne
What a moving post, thanks for sharing and have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this poem.
ReplyDeleteooo dear Shane
ReplyDeleteyou've really touched my heart with this post
interesting to to find out the origins of such a powerful and moving poem
oxo
Lovely tribute, my Dad flew in the US air force out of the UK during the war. Thankfully he returned. So many didn't and we must never forget. xox Corrine
ReplyDeleteJohn Mc Crae probably never thought the poem he wrote would be known by so many people almost a century later nor that it would become so important for the remembrance of all those soldiers.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the sweet comment you left on my blog the other day!
I will be visiting here again later!
Love the header on your blog!
Bye,
Marian
Hi Shane...thank you for leaving such encouraging .well awesome lovely comments on my blog the other day...
ReplyDeleteIt made me feel really good!!~~
I shall be putting you!! in my sidebar & maybe getting over YOUR way soon..??
xx andrea
Hello Shane,
ReplyDeletethank you for passing by my blog, Love to hear that you like my blog . Would really enjoy a cup of tea with you, your welcome for the giveaway, but i don't seem to have a comment from you on the 9th.
its good you came back , good luck. Nathalie.