Remembrance Day

For people who do not know me, let me introduce myself.....This post is being done not by Renee but rather by Wade (Renee's Husband) and I am Canadian so thought I would like to take a moment and offer something that I am thankful for today. Today(Nov 11th) is Remembrance Day in Canada. It is often also referred to as Poppy day, Armistice day or Veterans day. This is a day to commemorate the sacrifices of members of the armed forces and of civilians in times of war, specifically since the First World War. It is observed on Nov 11 to recall the end of World War I in 1918 which formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

Today I am thankful for all the sacrifice that soldiers have made to allow us the freedoms that we enjoy everyday. If anybody not from Canada has a chance to be in Canada during Remembrance Day it amazing!! You will see that starting two weeks before Nov 11 everyone will be wearing a poppy! The poppy emblem was chosen because of the poppies that bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War I, their red color an appropriate symbol for the bloodshed of trench warfare.

Growing up in Canada all school children will have been taught an amazing poem written by Canadian military physician John McCrae who wrote it after he witnessed the death of his friend, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, only 22 years old, the day before.

So as each of you read the following poem please take a moment with me and thank all of the Veterans past and present who have offered so much!

In Flanders Fields

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.

— Lt.-Col. John McCrae (1872 - 1918)