Hi Everyone.
Today marks 95 years since the end of World War I. It is hard to grasp that 35 million people died during the time of WWI. 35 million.
I mark this day, as I try to do every year, with my own homage to those who fought in that war – and subsequent wars. It is also a way that I can honor my Father; a man who, every year, proudly displayed a Poppy on his lapel. It's been 30 years since his passing, but I have tried, in my own way, to continue that tradition.
My father went into WWII a young, 17-year old, chubby cheeked, impish kid. He returned a thin, battle-weary man. I look at the photographs of him and never cease to be amazed how different he looks in those two pictures. He witnessed immense atrocities, killed men his own age and fought in hand-to-hand combat to save his homeland from Hitlers opression. He was forever scared by his time in the Burmese jungle and as a Japanese POW. He was a man who rarely showed emotion, but Poppy Day, and the visit to the Cenotaph. was the one time when I would see him become emotional.
Tonight, I want to re-share a poem penned by Pam. It made its initial appearance on my Poppy Day post in 2011, but is timeless and so beautifully expresses the life of so many in working class England at the time. An incredible reflection of how so many that were lost were men who had so little in life. Had seen so little, yet sacrificed so much. How bravery often came from those in the trenches.
Pam was inspired to write this ode by a photograph owned by her grandmother. It is entitled, simply
The Photograph
When you go home,
Tell them of us and say,
For their tomorrow,
We gave them our today.
John Maxwell Edmonds, 1875-1958
Jaydee
6 Responses
And, as it did back in 2011, this made me a bit teary. I’m so thankful for all the veterans in my life and throughout the world.
Hugs.
Well said. Such a wonderful tribute. Thank you to all veterans and those who are serving today.
What a beautiful poem, Jaydee. Thank you so much for honoring this day.
A fine poem, Jaydee. Thanks for helping us remember those from the past. England suffered so much in both the wars; we here in the US need to remember that as well as honor our service men and women today. I do.
Lovely Poem Jaydee.
You mentioning poppies reminded me of the following poem
In Flanders Field
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.
John McCrae
With immense respect and grateful
heart to all who bravely did their part
and gallantly fought across the sea
to keep my world safe for me
You battled Evil – Inconceivable hate
YOU – my dear Soldiers,
Made my country great
Thank you dear Veterans
From the bottom of my heart
(poem posted on another blog of which I can’t remember which one it was at the moment)
ColleenB.
Thanks