ESA Remembers and Honors Those Who Did Not Make It Back
As wind-scattered poppy seeds sat dormant across the vast terrain where blood was shed by those serving in the military, paying the ultimate sacrifice of death for their country, the disturbed ground caused during World War I (July 28, 1914 – November 11, 1918) encouraged them to germinate, producing a beautiful red-orange flower.
In 1915 Canadian soldier, physician, surgeon, artist and poet, John McCrae, witnessed the brutality of death of many soldiers fighting alongside one another. It was then that he saw blooming poppies scattered throughout the horrific scene that encouraged him to pen a now-famous poem that inspired the practice of poppy wearing — a modern-day symbol of Memorial Day.
In Flanders Field
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.
This weekend, many will be celebrating Memorial Day with plans of cookouts, spending quality time with family and friends, attending parades and seeing red poppies adorning the shirts and blouses of many, in remembrance and honor of those who did not make it back from war-torn battlefields of yesteryear and long ago. We encourage everyone to take a moment to pause and remember … remember those people who literally sacrificed everything to serve their country to their death … those who did not make it back to their families and friends to continue life as usual as we all will be doing over the holiday weekend.
May we always remember those who sacrifice, continue to sacrifice and sacrificed it all …
- Armed Forces Day (third Saturday of May): for those who currently wear the uniform.
- Veteran’s Day (November 11th): for those who used to wear the uniform.
- Memorial Day (last Monday of May): for those who never made it out of the uniform.
