In Flanders Fields

 

Wide of the Mark

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In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That marks 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
Flanders, 1915

Captain John McCrae was a surgeon in the Canadian Army. He served with the 1st Field Artillery Brigade during the battles of the Ypres salient. The death of his friend and former student, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer of Ottawa, inspired him to write this poem.

On January 28th, 1918, Lieutenant Colonel McCrae died of pneumonia and meningitis. He never saw the end of World War One, which ended nine and a half months later.

"In Flanders Fields" came to immortalize the symbol of sacrifice the world over. 

On every November 11, we honour the brave men and women who served and continue to serve our country. At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of that eleventh month, we pause in silence to remember their sacrifices, and the sacrifices of their families and loved ones. 

They fought for the freedom we enjoy. They gave their today so we could have a tomorrow. We owe them a debt that can never be repaid.

 

Lest we forget - N'oublions Jamais

JS

Reference: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/military-history/history-heritage/remembrance-ceremony/4.html

 

 

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