Forgetting to Remember

Three years after Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae penned the famed poem In Flanders Fields, which immortalized the scarlet poppy as the symbol of soldiers who died in battle, an American, Moina Michael wore a poppy in memory of those soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice. Then, during a 1920 visit to the United States a French woman, Madame Guerin, learned of the custom. Upon her return to France she decided to use handmade poppies to raise money for the destitute children in war-torn areas of the country. This is the history of the poppy, a tradition born in America and one which continues to be embraced here in Canada.

I was channel surfing the other night and caught the tail end of a news program, they were answering a viewers email question. The question was – Can you please tell me why Americans don't wear poppies as a symbol of Remembrance Day like we do here in Canada? You can watch a video which answers that question here.

I came across another news story on the topic of poppies, you can read it here.

With these stories in mind I think it’s more important than ever that each of us make certain that at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month we reflect on everything we have – our freedoms, our safety, our family, our friends and we take that moment to remember those who sacrificed their freedoms, their safety, their families and their friends so that we wouldn’t have to. We need to remember before we all forget what it is we are suppose to remembering.

In Flanders Fields
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 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.