Is observed in the UK the second Sunday in November to honor those who fought in the two world wars and other conflicts. The poppy was the first flower to grow in the soil desturbed when trrops were buried in Northern France & Flanders in WWI and hence has become a symbol of the conflict.
Nearly 40,000,000 are sold each year with the money going to support wounded troops raising $60 million.
Remeberance at Cardiff Castle
In an earlier post, when I was in Folkestone, I walked down this road where during WWI 5,000,000 British, Canadian and American troops marched to the debark on the boats to France. Too many did not return.
May we all give thanks to their courage.
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.
John McRae
{ 0 comments… add one now }