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Remembrance Day |
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It is important that Cubs appreciate Remembrance Day. Over 66,000 Canadians died in the First World War. A beautiful poem written by John McCrae describes the events of wars that no one should ever have to experience. We cannot forget the sacrifices our veterans made in the defense of our freedom and democracy. Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae's "In Flanders Fields" remains to this day one of the most memorable war poems ever written. It is a lasting legacy of the terrible battle in the Ypres salient in the spring of 1915. He died at age 45 of pneumonia while on active duty on January 28th, 1918 at Wimereux near Boulogne, France.
One of the most asked questions is: why poppies? The answer is simple, poppies only flower in rooted up soil. Their seeds can lie on the ground for years and years, and only when someone roots up the ground, they will sprout. There was enough rooted up soil on the battlefield of the Western Front; in fact the whole front in Belgium consisted of churned up soil. So in May 1915, when McCrae wrote his poem, around him poppies blossomed like no one had ever seen before. By the 1920s, Legion Branches were selling the paper flowers to provide assistance to needy ex-servicemen and their families, to build housing for seniors, and support programs like meals-on-wheels, drop-in centres, etc. Buy and wear a poppy. It is simple, painless way to recognize contributions and sacrifices barely imaginable to us.
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In Flanders Fields In Flanders fields the
poppies blow We are the Dead. Short
days ago Take up our quarrel
with the foe: John McCrae,
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John wrote the poem about a soldier's fear that in death they will be forgotten, and their death will be in vain. Remembrance, as symbolized by the poppy is the eternal answer which alleviates that fear. |
For Remembrance Day the Cub Pack could:
Meet veterans to discuss their experience during war
April 25, 2005
