Rememberence Day



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.

By John McCrae, May 1915

John McCrae starting to draft the poem on the evening of May 2nd, in the second week of the Battle of Ypres. It is believed that John got his inspiration from the death of his friend Lieutent Alexis Helmer, who was killed on the morning of May 2nd, when he left his dugout and was directly hit by a German 8 inch shell. John McCrae was serving as a military doctor and major at the time, but as the chaplain has been called away on other duties at the time of burial, John McCrae was asked to conduct the service, as he was in the same Canadian Artillery Unit. Alexis was burried at Essex Farm British Miliary Cemetry.

During 1915 John McCrae sent the poem to The Spectator magazine. It was not published and was returned to him. It was, however, published in Punch magazine on 8^th December 1915.

To me, rememberence day is so important, as I feel that the job that our boys have done in all of the wars, and the current war if Afganistan is just so important, as they are putting their life on the life, risking everything for their country, to which we should be ever thankful for. On rememberence day, I try to think about all of the hardships they have suffered and endured, the pains and truamas that they have been through, and sadly the ones who were lost along the way, being killed for the sake of their people back at home. It is so sad to think about how many soldiers have died, thinking about all of those broken hearted mothers and sweathearts when they found out that their precious boys had died.

Today I shall be wearing my poppy with pride, as I have the upmost respect for those men, every single one of them, to which they desverve by everyone due to the amazing job that they have done and are still doing in todays war. I try to give as much as I can for a poppy, as I feel that the British Leigon needs as much money as it can get, as I feel that the old soldiers should be looked after better than they are, as afterall, today would not be the same if they hadn't carried out that awful job, seeing it through all the way to victory. I shall be doing my 2 minutes silence at 11 O'clock today and then I shall be making my way to the Imperial War Museum, London, which I think is one of the best museums as it has so much information, and has the old airoplanes hanging from the ceiling in the main hall. Also as it is rememberence day, some of the old soldiers that served in WW2 will be there, I love seeing them there, as I have been there before on Rememberence day, but it is also remorseful as they get upset, as all of the horrific memories of losing friends along the way and the battles they have fought come flooding back to them. When you see them, dressed in their best, with all of the medals pinned to their chest, you realise how brave they actually were, how much they actually went through, and how it is amazing that they still carried on with their life after the war ended, although some did have trouble, which is perfectly understandable as they had suffered so much.
Today, for me, will be a day of history and commemorating the soldiers, remembering what they did and celebrating their victories. Wear you poppie with pride, there is not a better accessory.
Also please check out the British Leigons website, http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/

Thank You,
Love Lil x