Remembrance Day

Tim brought back a poppy from Canada last weekend, a familiar emblem of Remembrance Day in Commonwealth countries. Today I am reminded of the poem that we memorized in elementary school - In Flanders Fields -  at least we learned the first section, and I can still recite it by heart (except I forgot the line about the larks!).....
Thank-you to so many who have fought and who are continuing to fight for our freedom!

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.
-Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae 1872 - 1918

Poppies are a common sight in German fields, especially along roadsides.