SERVICE, DUTY, HONOR, COURAGE AND SACRIFICE

This Memorial Day we honor and remember our military heroes who died in combat or as a result of injuries sustained during battle and thank them and their families for their sacrifice.

On Memorial Day, flowers are traditionally placed on soldiers’ graves.  Many people will wear poppies in remembrance.  The red flowers represent the blood of fallen soldiers.  Many veterans service organizations annually distribute these crepe paper poppies, called “Buddy Poppies,” that have been assembled by hospitalized veterans in exchange for donations to help needy and disabled veterans. 

The poem below was written in 1915 by John McCrae, a World War I soldier and medical officer. Today Flanders Fields, the site of World War I battlefields, is home to thousands of poppies.  It remains a fitting tribute to all who died for our country in conflicts past and present around the globe.

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.