In Flanders Fields ~ 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.
—
Veteran’s Day was originally Armistace Day, a day set aside to honor the fallen men of what was then called The War to End All Wars… before we had the sense to start assigning them numbers.
After we’d subsequently experienced WWII and Korea the holiday began to be called Veterans Day to acknowledge the sacrifices of those in all our conflicts.
Actually, we should do this every other day. Those in harm’s way don’t really get a day off to go celebrate by hitting the sales at the mall. Those that have given all never will.
Today we say thanks to all who served, and to those who still do.
Rob Jones for President 