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.

Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

Note that the number of WW I vets has dwindled down to a few dozen. Barring some miracle medical breakthroughs, in another decade they will all lie (at least metaphorically) in Flanders fields. Honor today the few who are still with us, and their compatriots who no longer are. And thank, silently or otherwise, those in harm's way today overseas.

[Update a few minutes later]

Ralph Kinney Bennett has some further thoughts.

By the way, I'll be keeping this post at the top all day, so if you come back and still see it, scroll down past it--there may be new posts below.

Thanks from those who remember our veterans the home of the World War 1 museum, The Liberty Memorial here on Pershing Square. Kansas City Mo.

http://www.libertymemorialmuseum.org/index.aspx

I deeply appreciate the post to the memory of those who served in a cause that is just. Thank you.

Too bad the French today choose to trivially squander the liberty we twice bought them with our and Great Britan's and the Commonwealth Nation's blood. Next time we should only help those willing to help themselves.