I believe this may be the first Memorial Day for me that I have taken a bit slower and more time to think about what it truly means. Memorial Day is set aside to take time to honor those that have given the ultimate sacrifice of their life for our freedom. I have been very appreciative of the many emails that I have read over that wish to honor those that have fought and paid for our freedom. Unfortunately there have been a few articles where the author says he has a problem calling those that have died in battle, Heroes. I guess it is easy for that pencil necked sissy to sit behind his desk risking a paper cut to say something so outlandish.
I also ran across a poem, In Flanders Fields, which was written my Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD during his time of service in WWI which I thought I would share. I encourage you to read the poem a couple times.
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.
I have read sources that say the remembrance red poppy has deep roots from this poem. Now I know the reason behind the remembrance poppy that I have proudly worn.Â
I close with quoting General John Allen, top U.S. commander in Afghanistan;
“The soldiers who have fallen did not die in vain.
While our brothers and sisters fell in a place far from home, far from their families, the values for which they stood and for which they lived and for which they died occury an enduring place in our hearts, those values: freedom, duty, selflessness and sacrifice.” I will add, HONOR!
