[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Madelaine Amee

Unfortunately, the true reason for a Memorial Day is becoming lost. For many Memorial Day means cookouts and family fun. For many others it is the beginning of summer and gardens have to be planted to grow food and flowers for the year. I don't think anyone can lay blame for this, it is just a fact of life. It seems that the ones who really understand what Memorial Day means, or should mean, is our age group. My children are very Patriotic, but I know they will be enjoying the day with their families and friends without giving much thought to the people who gave their lives so that we could live free. It is not that they are uncaring, but our commercialized world has enforced the idea that Memorial Day is the beginning of summer and not much else.

I wonder how many purchased a Poppy this weekend, or even know what the Poppy stands for, or have even heard the Poppies of Flanders readings. But then WW1 is so far in the past now and our lives move so quickly in this age of technology it will soon become a thing of the past.

I was just thinking about that poem myself. Here it is;

In Flanders Fields
By John McCrae

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.