Remembrance Day

by
Patricia Parkinson

This is a day to remember and contemplate, to think about the world that was, the world that is, and to honor the brave men and women that have fought and continue to fight for the freedoms we have, and most importantly, to never forget.

I will honor this day with a poem, one of my favorite poems, one that I think everyone knows, written by a fellow Canadian, an army physician named John McRae in 1915. The above picture is a copy of the poem in Leiuntant Colonel McRae's handwriting.

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.


Please take a moment of time today, have a moment of silence with your family, with your children, let them know how important today is, not a holiday, not a day of missing school, today is a day to remember.

Thank you.