Thursday, November 11, 2010

Those Places Thursday ~ Remembrance Day Canada and Veterans Day USA

The Poppy - Papaver Rhoeas
Antique botanical illustration - 1897 (cropped)
SOURCE: Wikipedia

The language of flowers:
The symbolism for the poppy is "sympathy."
Not to be confused with Rosemary which is "remembrance."
SOURCE: various internet searches


Lieutenant Colornel John A. McCrae, M.D.
Poet, physician, author, Lieutenant Colonel
of the  Canadian Expeditionary Force 

Born: 30 November 1872
Guelph,Ontario, Canada
Died: 28 January 1918 - aged 45 years
Boulogue-Sur-Mer,  France
While still commanding the Canadian No. 3 General Field Hospital (McGill) at Boulogne, he died of pneumonia.
He was buried the next day with full military honours. His flag-draped coffin was preceded by his charger "Bonfire" with his boots reversed in the stirrups.

SOURCE: Photo circa 1914. Several pages of information on Wikipedia.


Postcard of the John McCrae Memorial,
Guelph, Ontario, Canada
SOURCE: Personal collection.



IN FLANDERS FIELDS
by John McCrae - December 1915

In Flanders fields the poppies brow
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.



IN FLANDERS FIELDS
Illustrated book published 1921
SOURCE: Wikipedia.



Remembering all those who have served and who serve today.
Peace.

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