Take time to remember our Veterans today

In elementary school in the early 1960s, I was honored to be chosen to recite "In Flanders Fields" at a Veteran's Day celebration in the small New Hampshire town where I grew up. This was a community event, where the town people gathered at the flag pole in front of the elementary school to remember and honor those who died fighting in war. Prayers were said. We saluted our flag. Military and religious music was played. This was 17 years after the end of World War II, so although wounds had healed, memories had not yet faded. Many in the small audience were World War II veterans. It was a solemn day to remember those lost and those who had served, and to appreciate why they fought in the first place.

IN FLANDERS FIELDS
by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies grow
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.  
Take time today to remember our Veterans today. They fought for our country, they fought for our freedom and our future. On this day, I honor my father, who was in the Parachute Infantry of the 101st Airborne in World War II -- and saw war horrors in Bastogne and Holland that we can't even begin to imagine and which he rarely discussed. Unfortunately, he passed away before I was old enough to understand or thank him.


Thank you, Daddy.