Articles of the Month

Remembrance Day

This news article is on Remembrance Day. As it has been quite a while since I was in school and discussed Remembrance Day. Since I didn't know much about Remembrance Day or why we really remember, I thought I would surf the internet for some more in depth answers.

The first thing that I thought about was poppies. So I looked up poppies and I remembered the poem by John McCrae. He was a Lieutenant-Colonel from the Royal Canadian Medical Corps. In May 1915 he wrote this poem when he was working front line medical tent.

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.

As I came back to this and read this I was beginning to understand some of the hardships and the things that people in the war had to deal with. These were our fathers, brothers, uncles, cousins, grandfathers and much more. War didn't judge or criticize: everyone was fighting for a common theme. Although war is something very destructive, I feel that it brings people together and we forget what race, nationality, age, cultural beliefs, and sexual orientation we are and come together to defend our country.

So I continued along looking for more information on Remembrance Day I came upon this and this is exactly what I was looking for.

PLEASE WEAR A POPPY

"Please wear a poppy," the lady said
And held one forth, but I shook my head.
Then I stopped and watched as she offered them there,
And her face was old and lined with care;
But beneath the scars the years had made
There remained a smile that refused to fade.

A boy came whistling down the street,
Bouncing along on care-free feet.
His smile was full of joy and fun,
"Lady," said he, "may I have one?"
When she's pinned in on he turned to say,
"Why do we wear a poppy today?"

The lady smiled in her wistful way
And answered, "This is Remembrance Day,
And the poppy there is the symbol for
The gallant men who died in war.
And because they did, you and I are free -
That's why we wear a poppy, you see.

"I had a boy about your size,
With golden hair and big blue eyes.
He loved to play and jump and shout,
Free as a bird he would race about.
As the years went by he learned and grew
and became a man - as you will, too.

"He was fine and strong, with a boyish smile,
But he'd seemed with us such a little while
When war broke out and he went away.
I still remember his face that day
When he smiled at me and said, Goodbye,
I'll be back soon, Mom, so please don't cry.

"But the war went on and he had to stay,
And all I could do was wait and pray.
His letters told of the awful fight,
(I can see it still in my dreams at night),
With the tanks and guns and cruel barbed wire,
And the mines and bullets, the bombs and fire.

"Till at last, at last, the war was won-
And that's why we wear a poppy son."
The small boy turned as if to go,
Then said, "Thanks, lady, I'm glad to know.
That sure did sound like an awful fight,
But your son - did he come back all right?"

A tear rolled down each faded check;
She shook her head, but didn't speak.
I slunk away in a sort of shame,
And if you were me you'd have done the same;
For our thanks, in giving, if oft delayed,
Thought our freedom was bought - and thousands paid!

And so when we see a poppy worn,
Let us reflect on the burden borne,
By those who gave their very all
When asked to answer their country's call
That we at home in peace might live.
Then wear a poppy! Remember - and give!

by Don Crawford

And like the gentleman said, tears rolled down my cheek as I read this and it suddenly hit me: we are remembering everyone who has fought for this great country. We should be thankful and remember everyday those men and women who fought to make this country so great. I hope that this is provided some more insight on why we have a Remembrance Day and why we wear poppies. I know that I have learned something and taken something from this, I hope you do too.

To All those brave men and women who made our country wonderful and strong!