On November 11th, Canada observes Remembrance Day.
Today, we will remember the members of our armed forces who have died in the line of duty. Across Canada, there will be a moment of silence at the 11th hour. In the year 1918, WWI hostilities formally ended “at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.”
I am wearing a red poppy, which is the Canadian symbol of Remembrance Day based on the poem “In Flanders Fields.”
On May 3, 1915, Canadian physician and Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae was moved to write the poem after he presided over the funeral of friend and fellow soldier, Alexis Helmer, who died in the Second Battle Ypres.
In Flanders Fields by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae
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 Composed at the battlefront on May 3, 1915 during the second battle of Ypres, Belgium Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae
May we all continue to seek peaceful solutions…together.
Rebecca's Reading Room 
A choir I was once in sang these words to music: I can no longer remember the composer, but it added another dimension to these moving words. I’ve always found the WWI poets a talented group, expressing so well the utter futility of war. All those men dying so young changed the history of that whole generation and beyond.
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“All those men….changed the history. I agree, Margaret. The WWI poets challenged the current view on war in their time and led the way for many to follow their example. They reach out from the past and, as you said, inspire new generations. Have you ever heard Sean Bean recite Wilford Owen’s Anthem for Doomed Youth?
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I hadn’t. Thanks so much for this Rebecca. So powerful.
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Well done, Rebecca. Hugs on the wing.
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Many thanks Teagan! It is a day of profound reflection. Sending hugs on the wing.
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Wonderful, Rebecca. You must read Frank Prem’s book of modern WW1 poetry. It’s called Sheep on the Somme and I really enjoyed it.
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Many thanks for the introduction, Robbie! Heading over to find Frank Prem’s poetry collection.
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