Remembering Those Who Served

Take a moment.

Breath deep.

Quiet the noise.

Forget your busyness.

Be still.

And remember. Because now is a time of remembrance.

Of men and women who stood up when called, and stepped into service.

Bravely, into harm’s way.

On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918, World War I ended. And every year since, all around the world, people take time to remember on this day.

Because we cannot forget.

“During the early days of the Second Battle of Ypres a young Canadian artillery officer, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, was killed on 2^nd May, 1915 in the gun positions near Ypres. An exploding German artillery shell landed near him. He was serving in the same Canadian artillery unit as a friend of his, the Canadian military doctor and artillery commander Major John McCrae.

“As the brigade doctor, John McCrae was asked to conduct the burial service for Alexis because the chaplain had been called away somewhere else on duty that evening. It is believed that later that evening, after the burial, John began the draft for his now famous poem ‘In Flanders Fields’.” (source)

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 McCrae

Busyness can wait. Today, with gratitude, we remember.