In Flander's Fields

In Flander's Fields
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

Written by Canadian Army Col. John McCrae



The poem is a lasting legacy of the terrible battle near Ypres, Belgium in the spring of 1915.  McCrae, a physician, had performed surgery during the terrible 17 day ordeal.  After the battle sitting on the back of an ambulance, he saw a cemetery near the battlefield covered with poppies.  McCrae vented his anguish by composing what became a very famous poem.

Since 1922, the Buddy Poppy has been the Veterans of Foreign Wars official memorial flower.  The Poppy represents the blood shed by American service members and it reiterates that the VFW will not forget their sacrifices.

Today, disabled Veterans assemble Poppies and the VFW pays them for their work.  In most cases, this extra money provides additional income for the worker to pay for the little luxuries that make hospital life more tolerable.

Another reason Poppies are so important is because all proceeds from distribution are used for Veterans welfare or for the well being of their needy dependents and the orphans of Veterans.

I would like to thank the VFW for providing me with this information.