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.

Forget history textbooks. These are a couple of books that should be required reading.

mmmmm, canadian holiday.

I always forget to celebrate that one.

Well, I live in this area where there are tons of Canadian, English & American military cemeteries.

And it was almost at this very moment so many years ago that my grand-grandfather or something like that was one of the last victims of the first World War. He kept a diary everyday and wrote for Nov 10 1918 that he was very glad it was finally almost all over and that he was so happy he survived it.

Both my grandfathers fought in WWII and Rememberence Day is always a special holiday for me not only to remember the sacrifices made for us, but also to remember who my grandfathers specifically were and what they meant to me. I couldn't imagine them shooting at people, they were both very gentle, kind people. They have both passed in recent memory, and November 11th is a day that I will never forget as a day to remember what so many grandfathers, fathers, brothers and sons sacrificed for us so we could live the life that we do today.

Lest we Forget

My great-uncle was in the cavalry in WWI. When my great-aunt died 12 years ago, my dad inherited his sword. As well as a bayonet he picked up along the way. I always wonder if he killed anyone using that sword. He was barely 18 when he enlisted.

Two of my great-great-aunts volunteered as nurses at the time. On the way home, one of them met my uncle and introduced my great-aunt to her future husband.

When my grandmother died last year; I discovered all of my great-aunt's photos. I found a dozen pin-sized pictures that her husband took when he was in the war. It brought a new meaning to Remembrance Day for me.

I only wish I could have met him.

Bump

Everybody should be listening to their favorite rendition of The Band Played Waltzing Matilda today. I'll be enjoying the Pogues version.

I'm wearing a poppy.

Let's honor the troops fighting for our freedoms in Iraq.

Me too.

So was I. I placed mine at the local cenotaph near my library, today.


I watched the Ottawa coverage on CBC. There are still 5 Canadian WWI vets alive. I wonder how many will be around next year.

I used to work with a guy who refused to work on Veterans Day because he was in the military and was in Iraq during the first war. The manager fired him because he was sceduled on that day and didn't show up for work.

Canuckers, it's called VETERANS DAY

No. REMEMBRANCE DAY. World War I ended 11 Novemember 1918. The War to end all wars. Then each war after that , kind of was added into it.

Oh, and that manager should be run over with a tank. The asshole.

it's LE JOUR DU SOUVENIR, folks