Poppies and Flanders Field
July 3, 2014
Lets pause a moment from parades and grilling and remember the words of Dr and Col. John McCrae, World War I soldier, doctor and poet.
“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 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 you break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
People prayed that WWI would be the last. It was not. Freedom is costly and fleeting.