fifty plus but young at heart

Why Wear a Poppy? Remembrance Day November 11...Lest We Forget

I found this wonderful poem in our local newspaper "The Mission Times" Nov. 7, 2008  and thought it would be fitting to add here as November 11th is Remembrance Day in Canada and Veterans Day in the United States.

 

               Why Wear a Poppy

 

"Please wear a poppy," the lady said,

 And held one forth, but I shook my head.

 Then I stopped and watched as she offered them there,

 And her face was old and lined with care;

 

 But beneath the scars the years had made

 There remained a smile that refused to fade.

 A boy came whistling down the street,

 Bouncing along on care-free feet.

 

 His smile was full of joy and fun,

"Lady," said he, "may I have one?"

 When she'd pinned it on, he turned to say;

"Why do we wear a poppy today?"

 

The lady smiled in her wistful way

 And answered; "This is Remembrance Day.

 And the poppy there is a symbol for

 The gallant men who died in war.

 

And because they did, you and I are free-

That's why we wear a poppy, you see.

I had a boy about your size,

With golden hair and big blue eyes.

 

He loved to play and jump and shout,

Free as a bird, he would race about.

As the years went by, he learned and grew,

And became a man -- as you will too.

 

He was fine and strong, with a boyish smile,

But he'd seemed with us such a little while

When war broke out and he went away.

I still remember his face that day.

 

When he smiled at me and said, "Goodbye,

I'll be back soon, Mum, please don't cry."

But the war went on and he had to stay,

And all I could do was wait and pray.

 

His letters told of the awful fight

(I can see it still in my dreams at night),

With the tanks and guns and cruel barbed wire,

And the mines and bullets, the bombs and fire.

 

'Til at last, at last, the war was won --

 And that's why we wear a poppy, son."

 The small boy turned as if to go,

 Then said, "Thanks, lady I'm glad to know.

 That sure did sound like an awful fight

 But your son -- did he come back all right?"

 A tear rolled down each faded cheek;

 She shook her head, but didn't speak.

 I slunk away in a sort of shame,

 And if you were me, you'd have done the same:

 

 For our thanks, in giving, is oft delayed,

 Though our freedom was bought -- and thousands paid!

 And so, when we see a poppy worn,

 Let us reflect on the burden borne

 By those who gave their very all

 When asked to answer their country's call

 That we at home in peace might live,

 Then wear a poppy!  Remember -- and Give!

 

               .......Don Crawford....

 

 

 

           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 amidst 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.

 

          ......John McCrae....

 

 

May God Bless All our Veterans     and all the young men and women who are still fighting for us.

Now go out and get your Poppy .....Lest we forget