Buy A Poppy. Thank A Veteran.

It is almost Veterans Day.  Hardly any, if any, veterans remain from WWI and the beginning of Veterans Day which is referred to as Armistice Day in some areas.  The Eleventh Hour of the Eleventh Day of the Eleventh Month.  The ceasefire which ended the war to end all wars began at that time.  Although there was fighting up until that time.  Who knows why THAT was? 

Many Veterans and Auxiliary Groups throughout the nation and abroad are selling poppies which raises proceeds for ailing veterans.  Why poppies? What is the connection with veterans?  A poem which was required memorization work in days of yore holds the answers to those questions.  I will post the poem below and urge you all to read the background on its origin. Thank you to all veterans!

And to all of you.  Buy a poppy.  And thank the veteran who is selling them.

In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

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.