Lest we forget...

[ratherastory]

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.

~Major John McCrae

Comments

[jackfan2.livejournal.com]

Amen.

For my father, who served and fought in Vietnam, for my brother who served and just missed going to Afghanistan, and for my oldest son who serves now and will likely deploy in April of next year, and for every man and woman who bravely serve, thank you for posting this. *hugs*

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

"Victory is not in what was gained alone, but in what was lost in the millions."

*hugs back*

I will never support war, but that doesn't make the soldiers' sacrifice any less meaningful, or any less real.

[nwspaprtaxis.livejournal.com]

I will never support war, but that doesn't make the soldiers' sacrifice any less meaningful, or any less real.

That's exactly how I feel. I'll support the troops and support the soldiers, but I'll never support the cause they fight for because I never support war. Any kind of war.

And that's beautiful and apt because in the US it's Veteran's Day today.

[hsifeng.livejournal.com]

I love this poem and always have. So many of us have a personal sorrow that we associate with this piece. I have a love for Mr. Lennon’s words on conflict as well, in this case as filtered through Maynard James Keenan:

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

Oh, damn. I am so sorry for your loss.

[hsifeng.livejournal.com]

Thanks honey. It's been three and a half years and I still ache when I think about what we all lost when he passed. Some people are just amazing human beings. He was one.

In some ways he was lucky though, so many vets come back fundamentally broken by the experience. There is nothing that can compensate them for the years it takes to recover, and some never do.

I honor them. I honor their families. I honor a sacrifice that most people will never really understand or comprehend.

It’s a wall of flesh and souls. And as someone who lives safe and ignorant on the other side of it, I can only be humbled by those that are used to build it.

[spookysquall.livejournal.com]

My great grandfather stormed the beaches at Dieppe and was a POW for 4 years. Today I honour him and all those who serve their country in the name of freedom.