November 11

Canadian physician aand Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae wrote In Flanders Fields in May 1915 after he witnessed the death of a friend.  

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.

This took on a whole new meaning for me when earlier this year, while doing genealogical research, I discovered my great-grandfather (my father's father's father) was killed in action at Flanders in May, 1915.

Have a peaceful day.