The fields of battle and the faces may change through the years, but the courage, honor and heroism remain the same.
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.
The poem “In Flanders Fields” by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae was scrawled on a scrap of paper in 1915 as he sat near the battle field at Ypres where he lost so many friends and spent 17 days on the bloody battlefield. He tossed the poem away considering it not good enough. Fortunately, a fellow officer picked it up and sent it to London where it was published by Punch on December 8, 1915.
Almost all of us know someone who has given their life for freedom. This year, remember to take a minute (or more) to remember the reason for Memorial Day. You could display your flag, wear or plant some red poppies, or place a flag on a soldier’s grave. On Memorial Day, the flag is flown at half-staff until noon when it should then be raised to the top of the pole.
Freedom is not free.
The staff at ACS Industrial Services, both veteran and civilian, is grateful to our fallen heroes for carrying the torch of freedom.