For Memorial Day - In Flanders Fields

[Mad_Dem_X]

In Flanders Fields
BY JOHN MCCRAE

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.

[UTUSN]

1. ...

[Fla Dem]

2. Least We Forget

From 1914 to 1918, Flanders Fields was a major battle theatre on the Western Front during the First World War. A million soldiers from more than 50 different countries were wounded, missing or killed in action here. Entire cities and villages were destroyed, their population scattered across Europe and beyond.

Nearly 370 Americans are buried here; all told, over a thousand Americans gave their lives in the final offensive to liberate Belgium. It is now a peaceful site.

Flanders Field American Cemetery

American Battle Monuments Commission (.gov)
https://www.abmc.gov › multimedia › videos › flanders...

[Staph]

3. One of my most precious memories...

In the summer of 2001, my university alumni band had our first European concert tour, France, Germany, Liechtenstein, Belgium, and the Netherlands. My father had passed away in October 2000, so my sister and I took our 77-year-old mom with us.

She loved the trip! She became everyone's mom along the way. But the precious memory came in Ypres, Belgium. Every night at the Menin Gate, they hold a Last Post ceremony, a thanks to all of the Allied soldiers who died nearby in WWI. Very solemn, very moving. As it ended, while we waited to get back on our bus, Mom recited In Flanders Fields, from memory.

She's still around, now 100 years old. Still sharp as a tack, though I'm not sure she can still recite a poem she learned 90 years ago. I live with her and every day is precious, but that day was extra.

[FirefighterJo]

6. Every 11th of november

I sign präsent in my uniform. I make sure to be a few hours early so I can read the names of some of the fallen. The Menen gate is huge and covered with only names. During the Last Post everytime I cry.

[applegrove]

15. My grandmother's parents lady sat for free an old woman

Last edited Tue May 28, 2024, 04:30 AM - Edit history (1)

during the day in the wintertime when 'her people' worked and it was not safe for her to be around a wood stove alone. She had been a slave and told story after story to my grandmother and great grandmother all day. Granny had one older brother who did work outside the house (like chopping wood). Granny was the oldest girl (and had responsibilities inside the house) at about 5 years old and had 3 younger sister at the time who she took care of. Her mom would say "child do this, do that" all day long. The old woman was feeble, and my great grandfather, a hard rock miner, would go to the old woman's house to carry her through the snow back to his house and return her every day. Granny lived for those old woman's stories and I think it gave her an understanding that if you think your life is hard just wait till you hear someone else's troubles. My grandmother was a fighter and a lifter up of people her whole life. She was this child in around 1903. I don't know how many winters this went on. In 1994 or so Granny first told me of the story. She could even imitate the woman's accent 90 years later which sounded very carribean to me. And I could not understand much of what granny was saying. Don't know if Granny's mother understood. Don't know where the woman was from as slavery ended in Nova Scotia in 1830 or so. People's memories are amazing.

[AllaN01Bear]

4. ""

silent keys all .

[FirefighterJo]

5. As a Flanders boy

And the grandson of one of the few soldiers that reached 7 frontstripes while being a volunteer in the Great War because of a love lost, this poem everytime goes through the heart. We can never forget.

[flying_wahini]

7. Yes in Flanders Fields was a poem that students had to recite from memory in our 7th grade English class.

On a trip to France several yrs ago I bought a poppy pin from the veterans group selling them on the street.
The French were extra nice to us all day. I got lots of smiles and pats from strangers. It is a
sweet memory of the trip.

[mopinko]

8. a fairly recent song about that place-

[DFW]

17. I played a folk festival with Eric in 1975--not so recent!

Although he moved to Australia, he still talked like the Scotsman he was born as. We hung out a lot during that festival, did a few numbers together, but I never ran into him again afterward. I can't believe that was 49 years ago!

His "No Man's Land," also known as "The Green Fields of France," became a 20th century icon, recorded by countless people, brilliantly translated into a German version by Hannes Wader, probably the most lyrical voice of German language folk music of the 20th century.

[mopinko]

18. being a scotsman, he copyrighted both titles, but they arent the same song, exactly.

green fields of france was changed just a bit, i dont know if for legal reasons or what, and is the poorer for it. this song is on my short list to sing.
1 line- instead -the countless white crosses in mute witness stand’ it something about in the sand. similar dumb change in the chorus. i cant remember it. i can only listen to 1 version of stuff that i sing.

so, lemme know if you’re ever in chgo. i’d love to have a beverage and sing some songs.
hopefull by august, u can come to my house and play this old piano.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100218978561

[DFW]

19. I do make it to that part of the world on occasion.

My singing voice is long gone, and i don't do alcohol, but I may yet take you up on that!

[mopinko]

20. planning a party during the convention.

[pansypoo53219]

9. as this is WW1 + vets, i picked up an AWESOME book at an estate sale, and they say we wouldn't fight by floyd gibbons.

an embedded reporter when us joined. the stories he told + the book so well writen. MANY OF OUR SOLDIERS WERE RECENT IMMIGRANTS FROM EUROPE. he was wounded late in the war + his hospital reports of his fellow wounded. he reports the end in the final chapters. the book was very read. i also found studs terkel's the "good" war. ALSO WAY BETTER THAN "THE GREATEST GENERATION."

years ago WHAD in wisconsin had a 'semester on WW1 poetry on 'university on the air' i think. don't forget "the tree".

[Permanut]

10. K & R.

[kairos12]

11. I just finished reading "Muse of Fire" it's about

the poet/soldiers of WW1.

I recommend it highly.

[BannonsLiver]

12. Wonderful post

[question everything]

13. Flanders Fields

Flanders Fields is a common English name of the World War I battlefields[1] in an area straddling the Belgian provinces of West Flanders and East Flanders as well as the French department of Nord, part of which makes up the area known as French Flanders.

The name Flanders Fields is particularly associated with battles that took place in the Ypres Salient, including the Second Battle of Ypres and the Battle of Passchendaele. For most of the war, the front line ran continuously from south of Nieuwpoort on the Belgian coast, across Flanders Fields into the centre of Northern France before moving eastwards and it was known as the Western Front.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flanders_Fields

During the First World War, the Second Battle of Ypres was fought from 22 April – 25 May 1915 for control of the tactically important high ground to the east and south of the Flemish town of Ypres in western Belgium. The First Battle of Ypres had been fought the previous autumn. The Second Battle of Ypres was the first mass use by Germany of poison gas on the Western Front.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_Ypres

[oasis]

16. Thanks for taking the time to

share this interesting bit of history.

[calimary]

14. I remember studying this one in high school.

Where the poppies grow…

The class turned remarkably quiet.