20101111

in flanders field the poppies blow


wild poppies, near argenteuil, claude monet, 1873

on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month canadians stand in silence, asked to reflect on the memories of those who have sacrificed their lives while serving their country in the military - remembrance day

while watching the memorial service taking place in ottawa this morning, i was actually shocked to hear that canada's last first world war veteran died at age 109 this past year - i don't know why, but something just sort of sank inside of me

we embrace the symbol of the poppy by wearing them on our jackets or bags, to show our respect for those who gave everything for their country
the poppy dates back to the napoleonic wars when poppies were the first plants to grow on the graves of fallen soldiers in the area of flanders
and so came john mccrae's poem, 'in flanders fields,' which forever immortalised the poppy as a sign of remembrance



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