OT: Vetran's Day/ Poppies

[roccit_53 at scirocco.cs.uoguelph.ca (C Boyko)]

I'd been talking to one of the US lister's about Remembrance day and why it
is that Canadians wear poppies to remember those who served. Sadly, the
numbers of WWII Vetrans are quickly dwindling, and WWI vets are no longer
present at our ceremonies of Remembrance. This poem was written by a
Canadian field surgeon, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae MD, who had spent 17
days patching up the injured at Ypres, and exhausted, sat down and wrote
this poem. It has become part of the Canadian national fabric, and is the
reason we as Canadians wear a poppy as a symbol of respect and remembrance.

In Flander's Fields

In Flander's 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. 





Cathy