we remember those who have given all in the defense of our way of life, culture and beliefsfrom years gone by to the present day.
Gandalf
In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army
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.
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.
9 comments:
Thanks for reminding us, Gandalf.
Up here in British Columbia it's an annual provincial holiday. It's heartening to see how every year, more and more citizens turn out for the Remembrance Day ceremonies in our city parks, at each locations' Cenotaph.
Rain or shine, the numbers of attendees grow each nov 11.
May God Bless all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our continued freedom, and may our appreciation never waver, for it will be from our sense of gratitude that we may fuel our further sense of responsibility to be prepared to sacrifice in our turn.
(now it's off to the ceremony for me..)
Those who seek to gatecrash and hijack this awesome event of homage for the fallen with their white poppies should be handed a white feather.
"...If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields."
Indeed. Some of us have not and will not break faith.
I learned that poem by heart in school 50 years ago for what used to be called an "Armistice Day" observance. I have never forgotten it. I never will.
In memory of my father, a veteran of WWII and Korea.
Check out this story from Telegraph about Pte Johnson Beharry VC. It's a long story but believe me it's WELL worth reading.
He is the first person since 1965 to be awarded Britain's highest award for gallantry while still alive.
So I get to the end of this extraordinary young hero's story and what do I find? A Google ad with George Soros' web address.
Obscene.
I expected to run into Charles at the memorial service today here in Vancouver, Canada, but to my surprise and delight there were so many people in attendance that I couldn't spot him for the life of me. I met a group of Israelis, people who came to pay their respects to soldiers who lived and died for all of us, as Israelis do today for us. And Canadians, men and women who volunteer to fight for us, who volunteer to risk their lives for us. Hundreds ofCcharles Henrys I don't know yet stood in the gloom and chill and stood up for the good. We few....
A wonderful song for Veterans day is making the rounds on a variety of blogs and is called "Pittance of time" by Terry Kelly. Here is the story and a link to the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyI8By-a5uM
On November 11, 1999 Terry Kelly was in a Shoppers Drug Mart store in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. At 10:55 AM an announcement came over the store’s PA asking customers who would still be on the premises at 11:00 AM to give two minutes of silence in respect to the veterans who have sacrificed so much for us.
Terry was impressed with the store’s leadership role in adopting the Legion’s “two minutes of silence” initiative. He felt that the store’s contribution of educating the public to the importance of remembering was commendable.
When eleven o’clock arrived on that day, an announcement was again made asking for the “two minutes of silence” to commence. All customers, with the exception of a man who was accompanied by his young child, showed their respect.
Terry’s anger towards the father for trying to engage the store’s clerk in conversation and for setting a bad example for his child was channeled into a beautiful piece of work called, “A Pittance of Time”. Terry later recorded “A Pittance of Time” and included it on his full-length music CD, “The Power of the Dream”.
In the interest of creating a greater awareness of the sacrifices that have been made and are still being made on our behalf, “A Pittance of Time” has been adapted to the French language and titled “C’est si peu de temps”. Music videos for both audio tracks too were produced in support of the campaign and a musical/theatrical concert production, “Two Minutes of Silence – A Pittance of Time”, was written for the stage.
“Two Minutes of Silence - A Pittance of Time” combines music and theatre in an emotional production that looks at the folly of war. The inspirational songs and dramatic monologues evoke memories both tinged with sadness and joy that ultimately underscore the need for hope and faith in the goodness of humankind.
A relationship - set in World War One – unfolds as a young Canadian soldier fighting in the trenches attempts to bring some sanity to his horrific situation by corresponding with his new bride back home.
Singer/songwriter Terry Kelly features many of his own compositions such as “In My Father’s House”, “Moment To Moment”, “We Can Do Anything”, Safe Home, “A Pittance of Time” (and more) plus a few familiar songs from war times - “Pack Up Your Troubles”, “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary”, “Over There” ….
***LYRICS***
This is a self-contained production includes three musicians, two actors, and a technical crew.
They fought and some died for their homeland
They fought and some died now it’s our land
Look at his little child, there’s no fear in her eyes
Could he not show respect for other dads who have died?
Take two minutes, would you mind?
It’s a pittance of time
For the boys and the girls who went over
In peace may they rest, may we never forget why they died.
It’s a pittance of time
God forgive me for wanting to strike him
Give me strength so as not to be like him
My heart pounds in my breast, fingers pressed to my lips
My throat wants to bawl out, my tongue barely resists
But two minutes I will bide
It’s a pittance of time
For the boys and the girls who went over
In peace may they rest, may we never forget why they died.
It’s a pittance of time
Read the letters and poems of the heroes at home
They have casualties, battles, and fears of their own
There’s a price to be paid if you go, if you stay
Peace is fought for and won in numerous ways
Take two minutes would you mind?
It’s a pittance of time
For the boys and the girls all over
May we never forget our young become vets
At the end of the line it’s a pittance of time
It takes courage to fight in your own war
It takes courage to fight someone else’s war
Our peacekeepers tell of their own living hell
They bring hope to foreign lands that the hatemongers can’t kill.
Take two minutes, would you mind?
It’s a pittance of time
For the boys and the girls who go over
In peacetime our best still don battle dress
And lay their lives on the line.
It’s a pittance of time
In Peace may they rest, lest we forget why they died.
Take a pittance of time
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