moreluck
golden ticket member
Poppies, the tradition......
Every year around this time we see the veterans in front of the grocery stores with the red paper poppies. They are raising money for disabled and needy military veterans. It's a tradition that dates back more than 80 years. It was inspired by a poem written about wars and those who die in them.
The poem was written in 1915 by a Canadian army medical officer named John McRae, after the WWI battle of Apres in Belgium. As he wrote the poem he was looking over a military cemetery that was covered with wildflowers blowing in the wind. The poem is called "In Flanders Fields".
[SIZE=+1]IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]Between the crosses row on row,[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]That mark our place; and in the sky[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]The larks, still bravely singing, fly[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]Scarce heard amid the guns below.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]We are the Dead. Short days ago[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]Loved and were loved, and now we lie[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]In Flanders fields.[/SIZE] [SIZE=+1]Take up our quarrel with the foe:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]To you from failing hands we throw[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]The torch; be yours to hold it high.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]If ye break faith with us who die[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]We shall not sleep, though poppies grow[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]In Flanders fields.[/SIZE]
Thanks to Gordon Dillow, O.C. Register columnist for the reminder of what the poppies mean.
Every year around this time we see the veterans in front of the grocery stores with the red paper poppies. They are raising money for disabled and needy military veterans. It's a tradition that dates back more than 80 years. It was inspired by a poem written about wars and those who die in them.
The poem was written in 1915 by a Canadian army medical officer named John McRae, after the WWI battle of Apres in Belgium. As he wrote the poem he was looking over a military cemetery that was covered with wildflowers blowing in the wind. The poem is called "In Flanders Fields".
[SIZE=+1]IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]Between the crosses row on row,[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]That mark our place; and in the sky[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]The larks, still bravely singing, fly[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]Scarce heard amid the guns below.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]We are the Dead. Short days ago[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]Loved and were loved, and now we lie[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]In Flanders fields.[/SIZE] [SIZE=+1]Take up our quarrel with the foe:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]To you from failing hands we throw[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]The torch; be yours to hold it high.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]If ye break faith with us who die[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]We shall not sleep, though poppies grow[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]In Flanders fields.[/SIZE]
Thanks to Gordon Dillow, O.C. Register columnist for the reminder of what the poppies mean.