Freedom

Grateful for brave souls and their families who make immeasurable sacrifices so that we can be free.

I was in Canada and busy working on Veteran's Day, but I would be remiss if I didn't include this in my grateful list. ("Grateful" isn't nearly strong enough of a word, yes?) There they celebrate "Rememberance Day." Everyone wears red poppies on their lapels in honor of all who have fought and sacrificed for the freedoms we enjoy today. The flower is a reference from the WWI era poem, 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.