In many cities across Canada, we celebrate remembrance day. Starting around the first of the month, Canadian vets hand out poppies that we wear on our left lapel. I live in Halifax NS. During WW2, this was a huge port of call for allied troops before going over seas. Many young men never made it. Halifax shuts down completely on this day of remembrance. Nothing is open. We have a monument in our city center honoring our fallen heroes. There is a celebration held there on this day. It gives you chills when you see the old guys who fought in WW2 and Korea wearing their medals proudly. It's hard to realize that these frail men gave so much for our freedom. They are true heroes in my eyes. When the ceremonies are over, people place their poppies on the monument.
In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army
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.
There was a spot on the tv last year where there is a close up of a young man calling his grand father. "hi grandpa", he says. The old man replies, "Ah my grandson, how is France?" "It's great grandpa." The old man says, "are the women in Paris as beautiful as I remember?" The camera pulls out and it shows the young man is standing on a beach, alone. It's a dull foggy day and the waves are gently rolling on the shore. "I'm not in Paris." the young man pauses.... "I'm in Dieppe ." The old man slowly pulls the phone from his ear. The expression on his face falls from joy to sorrow. He looks at old pictures on the mantle of his buddies from the second world war, then he glances at his medals on display. He starts to think back when he was fighting on the beaches of France. The camera shows the young man standing on the beach, alone. The grandson says, "I just called to say thank you."
Lest we forget.
I can here the guns as the choppers are flying over my apartment right now. Rather moving.
