Alexa Remembers

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.

For the past several days Alexa has been standing on chairs throughout the house reciting John McCrae's famous poem by heart. She will be reciting the poem with her class at their Remembrance Day presentation on Tuesday. To say she's taking it seriously is an understatement.

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.

I've heard this poem countless times and most of us can probably recite the first two lines by heart, yet, its message no longer penetrates as it once did. Each year my only contribution to "remembering" is watching Saving Private Ryan, which I'll do again I'm sure. I wonder if that's enough? I also wonder how the soldiers would like to be remembered.

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.

I have never heard this verse before. Heartbreaking stuff. One day the soldiers were common folk like you and me, the next they were fighting a war they didn't start for a cause they would never fully understand. And now most of them lie In Flanders fields while the rest still live with its memory.

A recent poll has shown that today's youth are vastly ignorant when it comes to the events of this century's World Wars. Many believe Adolf Hitler was a German soccer coach for instance.There's no doubt war was and is a horrible reality of human civilization. Perhaps this is why most, including me, often choose to forget. Remembering hurts. Besides, it wasn't our war, right?

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 last verse doesn't allow us to forget. "If ye break faith with us who die we shall not sleep though poppies grow..." I asked Alexa what she thought it meant and she said "oh, it means we must stand with the soldiers."

One way we can stand with them is to tell their stories. I have a few of my own to tell and plan to do that on Wednesday as a tribute to freedom. Please share your own stories with me on that day so together we can never forget.

Thanks!

John