POEM (Flanders Fields)

By Lt. Col. John McCrae, MD
(1872 - 1918) Canadian Army

 

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.

SOMETHING TO PONDER (The Story of the Poppy)

     The poppy flower only grows in the absence of other flowers and only in ground that has been churned.
    In perhaps the best known poem of World War I, when Dr. John McCrae observed poppies growing between the crosses on the soldiers' graves, it inspired him to write the poem "In Flanders Fields".
     The poppy has since become known as "The Flower of Remembrance" and is worn in memory of our veterans.

       *******************************

     The Eygyptians considered the poppy to symbolize eternal life and consolation. They used the red poppy at funerals and left them in tombs.
     "In Flanders Fields" poppies grew with abandon in Flanders after the Napoleon Wars when the fields were disturbed by fighting. They reappeared in World War I for the same reason. Following an exhausting day caring for the wounded in 1915, Lt. Col. John McCrae saw the poppies and was inspired by them, associating the red poppy with those who had fallen in battle. He wrote a poem called  "In Flanders Fields," which begins: "In Flanders fields the poppies blow/ Between the crosses, row by row..."

"We Shall Keep the Faith"
Moina Michael read "In Flanders Fields" and was inspired to write her own poem in 1918 called, "We Shall Keep the Faith". In this poem, she included a promise to wear red poppies to remember the dead.


******************************

WHAT DOES THE POPPY FLOWER MEAN?

Native to just about every continent in the world, poppies symbolize several concepts, especially those related to life and death.

SYMBOLISM

In general, the poppy means eternal sleep, oblivion, sacrifice and imagination. The flower also symbolizes magic, consolations, fertility and eternal life.

WAR

The red poppy signifies sacrifice. The flower is used to honor soldiers, particularly in Canada. The connection began during Napoleonic wars of the 19th century. The war-disturbed soil uncovered poppy seeds that grew to cover the fighting fields in a sea of red. During the First World War, Flanders came alive with poppies, when the effects of the war disappeared, the poppies did too. The poem "In Flanders Fields" by John McCrae renewed the poppies' connection to war and death.

NATIONAL SYMBOL OF REMEMBRANCE

In 1920, the American Legion agreed to adopt the red poppy as the national symbol of remembrance.

MADAME E. GUERIN

Inspired by the message of "We Shall Keep the Faith", a Frenchwoman, Madame E. Guerin, decided to make red paper poppies to wear on Remembrance Day to remember those who had fallen.

POEM (A Soldier Came Home For The Last Time Today)

With gratitude we remember your service. We cannot thank you enough for all the sacrifices you have made on our behalf. God bless the families of the fallen heroes. May we ALWAYS honor you with the respect you deserve.

 

 

Paying the price for freedom led this hero to the grave.
   There were, however, others unnamed on any wall,
             a footnote to a story that does not tell it all!

 

 

 

They lost not just a soldier but a beloved daughter or son.
    An honored burial ends the story for many,
             but for them the pain has just begun.

 

 

Their scars might be harder to see,
     but on the inside they also suffer and bleed
        a river of tears shed by them
          does not lessen their grief.

 

 

The next time the family of a soldier you see,
    thank them for their own sacrifice
       in keeping the world free.

POEM (The "Military" Mom)

There hasn't been much said

about the "military" mom...

yet no wars could ever

have been won without her.

A "military' mom is a teacher

of independence, perseverance,

discipline and integrity;

possesses a great sense of humor,

and can make of any house a home.

She is a woman of quiet strength

who has shaped the hearts

of our bravest heroes

and taught them

to value peace above all.

The "military" mom is unshakable

in love for her country.

That is how she is able to let go

of her most precious treasure --

a son or daughter.

We proudly salute

and thank

the "military" mom.

~Eileen Hall 1998~

 

 



INSIGHTFUL MESSAGE (It Is The SOLDIER)

"It is the soldier, not the
reporter, who has given
us freedom of the press.

It is the soldier, not
the poet, who has given
us freedom of speech.

It is the soldier, not the
campus organizer, who
has given us the freedom
to demonstrate.

It is the soldier, who salutes the flag, who
serves beneath the flag,
and whose coffin is
draped by the flag,
who allows the protester
to burn the flag."

GOD BLESS ALL THOSE WHO SERVED AND CONTINUE TO SERVE TO PROTECT OUR FREEDOMS AND OUR LIFE.  GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES WHO HAVE LOST SOMEONE WHO HAS SERVED. MAY WE NEVER FORGET AND FOREVER BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR UNSELFISHNESS!

HUMOR HELPS HAPPINESS (A Bucket of Fish)

 

 



     A redneck, with a bucket full of fish, was approached recently by a Texas game warden as he started to drive his boat away from a lake.
     The game warden asked the man, "May I see your fishing license please?"
     "Naw, sir," replied the redneck. "I don't need none of them there papers. These here are my pet fish."
    "Pet fish?!?!" the warden was stunned.
     "Yep. Once a week, I bring these here fish o' mine down to the lake and let 'em swim 'round for a bit. Then when I whistle, they swim right back into my net and I take 'em home."
     "What a line of baloney! You're under arrest."
     Just as the warden pulled out his handcuffs and was ready to arrest him, the redneck said, "It's the truth, Mr. Gov'ment man. I'll show ya! We do this all the time."
     "We do, now do we?" smirked the warden. "PROVE IT!"
     The redneck released the fish into the lake and stood and watched. After a few minutes, the warden said, "Well?'
     "Well, WHUT?" asked the redneck.
     The warden asked, "When are you going to call 'em back?"
     "Call who back?'' said the redneck.
     "The FISH!" said the warden.
     "What fish?'' asked the redneck.

REDNECK MORAL: We may not be as smart as some city slickers, but we ain't as dumb as some government employees.

POEM (Hands)

Hands that soothe a hurt with love,

Are smiled upon by God above.

 

Helping hands to show they care,

Always do their willing share.

 

Hands of fine dexterity,

Can tools of lasting beauty be.

 

Hands that join in fervent prayer,

Have appeal beyond compare.

 

Reaching hands toward those in need,

Bridge the gap of thought and deed.

 

Hands that give their all and more,

Lead the way to Heaven's door.

~Catherine Janssen Irwin~