In Flanders Field
By John McCrae
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
By 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 lieIn
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.
Growing up, the war was just something that happened, my Grandfather-Thomas Flynn fought in it (So did Nic's Grandfather) there were lots of movies about it, but it never really sunk in that this was the event that shaped the world that we are living in today, it never sunk in until one day in 1999 when I had the honour of touring the D-Day beaches in Normandy.
On that day - everything became real - we were there, Jackman and I ran the beach at St. Aubin Sur Mer, where the North Shore Regiment, stationed in Chatham, NB, had run the beaches, and fought and died so that Canadians could go on living the way we wanted to.
I was blown away by the Canadian cemetery at 
Beny-Sur-Mer - it was a plot of soil given by the French to Canada for all they did for their country and the world- I've never felt so at home so far away. Then there was the unbearable sadness as we roamed the grave sites, reading all the names (there were many that were known only unto God) and the ages and the short epitaphs that their families back in Canada had sent over as final words for those they loved, and lost.
Beny-Sur-Mer - it was a plot of soil given by the French to Canada for all they did for their country and the world- I've never felt so at home so far away. Then there was the unbearable sadness as we roamed the grave sites, reading all the names (there were many that were known only unto God) and the ages and the short epitaphs that their families back in Canada had sent over as final words for those they loved, and lost.
As far as I'm concerned War is a terrible thing, but oppression is worse, so thank God that there are countries like Canada that are willing to go into places, like France, or Holland or Afghanistan for that matter, and stand up for those that are unable to stand up for themselves.
I remember this poem, as it is written in the Alumni building on the UNB campus and I would walk by it everyday on my way home from class, it is very powerful.
They shall not grow old as we who are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.
So today standing in the brilliant sunshine, clapping for those veterans who could still march I felt very proud to be Canadian, and I was glad to see so many people there to show those heros the appreciation that they deserve for their courage and their actions so many years ago, so far away.
November 11, I will remember, how could I possibly forget?
1 comment:
Well said.
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