Remembrance Day 08 (aka Veterans' Day)

In Flander’s Fields, where poppies blow,
Brave heroes rest from long ago.
In battles, amid the shot and shell
Is where these gallant soldiers fell.

They gave their all, to right a wrong,
The road they trod, was just too long.
They didn’t make it all the way,
Now to their graves, in France, they lay.

These were the sons of nations wide,
They came to help, reverse the tide.
The battles raged, by day and night,
Through winter storm and summer bright.

The dead and wounded, many fell,
Their buddies carried on through the hell.
Each day by day from dawn to dawn,
The fighting lads pressed on and on.

It wasn’t easy, but time would come,
The enemy, eventually would succumb.
The wounded, dead and thousands more,
Gave life and limb to win the war.

Lest we forget, remember well,
These were all heroes, men who fell.
Forever more and in November,
We shall remember, we shall remember.​

The writer of this poem served in the conflict in continental Europe with the Canadian Armed Forces in World War II 1939 - 1945. The writer was fortunate to come home. Many of his buddies were not so lucky. They shall be cradled int those graves forever with many, many others. With this in mind he dedicated this poem, not only to the men he knew and lived with, but to all others who did not make it back home.

Don't forget to pay your respects on November 11th.

 

Wow...that really touched me, I don't know what else to say. This has made me respect them even more...it makes you feel like you went through what they did...if only that was possible.

 

Yes, it kind of does. I think it's more powerful than In Flanders Fields, actually.

 

It's sad that I am a veteran and yet forget Veterans' Day every year till I am reminded of it. I will have to make a trip to the VA hospital and do a day of volunteering and hand out some gifts or something.

That poem was really great. It really reaches out and delivers the message.

 

Everytime I think of Veterans Day I think of my grandfather for he passed away two years in October and was a verteran from WWII. He was one of the surivors of his ship in Pearl Harbour. To all those veterans out there thank you so much for sacrifcing so much to keep us safe.