IN FLANDERS FIELDS- A REMEMBRANCE TRIBUTE 2021- A 100 YEARS

 

Wear your poppy in remembrance!

A famous Canadian John McCrea wrote a poem on the battlefield during World War One.

I have transcribed it here.

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.

This poem is read and recited at most Remembrance services across Canada. John McCrae did not return home from the war but his reflection is a continual reminder to us all!

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IN FLANDERS FIELDS

Yesterday a special garden was opened in England to commemorate Flanders Fields in Belguim. Apparently bags of soil from Flanders Fields were transported from Belguin with reverence. They were brought to help to create the garden. Other gardens will be created throughout the world as a gift from the Belgians to those who fought on their land in World War One. For Canadians, John McCrae wrote a very famous poem that is read each Remembrance Day at services and ceremonies.

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 FLAILING 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

He was one of many Canadians that did not survive the war. He did not survive the battles at Flanders Fields.

It is a very poignant poem. Short and simple. It could be applied to other conflicts and battles. So as Remembrance Day approaches, it is a time to reflect on the past but also to think about the present hoping the current conflicts will be short lived and hope for peace and prosperity for earth's children.

IN FLANDERS FIELD

In Flanders Fields, a poem by Canadian John McCrae- May 1915, has been recited by school children for generations in Canada.

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, feld 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; by yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

There are web sites and government sites telling many stories of the Great War and McCrae's story. Perhaps, look them up and learn more about our history. Did you have to recite this poem at Remembrance Day ceremonies as a child? I remember learning it in the early grades. It really transcends time and is so relevant with any modern conflict.