Memorial Day 2017

Back when I “was a tender and callow fellow” in a small town in Central North Dakota, I was called upon three years in a row to render my reading of “In Flanders Field” on Memorial Day observances.

For some reason, the indoor portion of the observance was held at the Federated Church, and there I read the brief poem written by a Canadian physician Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae.

I did not know the history of the poem, back then. What I knew then was that they were solemn words written during WWI. What I would find out later was the words were written after the Second Battle of Ypres, Belgium by McCrae who had presided over the funeral of a friend and fellow soldier.

I still remember the words, every year Memorial Day comes around, and with the passing years they come to mean more and more.

In Flanders Fields

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