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.

Lt. Col. John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Expeditionary Force

So now if you see someone wearing a poppy flower, perhaps next to a flag.. now you know how that came to be.

LTC John McCrae died of pneumonia in the hospital he set up, 3 Canadian General Hospital at Dannes-Camiers near Boulogne-sur-Mer, northern France. His poem was widely published and is one of the most well known from the First World War

May he rest.

posted by Dave In Texas at 03:50 PM

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