John McCrae wrote the best tribute I can think of over a century ago as a Canadian WWI Medic. It also reminds us that this holiday is an international observance commemorating the end to one of the worst wars in human history.
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.
fredrichlariccia says
remembering my brother,Peter , who we lost in Vietnam on September 15, 1968.
When I was caring for her at home near the end of her life my Mom — who was a poet, and nurtured my lifelong interest in reading and poetry —- would ask me to read to her. This was one of her favorite poems and always brought tears to her eyes remembering her beloved son.
Fred Rich LaRiccia
jconway says
I’ll hold Peter along with the other vets I know who we’ve lost.
paulsimmons says
Boston is the fourth-worst city for veterans nationwide, and ties for first place in the ratio of homeless veterans to total veterans.
As in so many things here, there is a big difference between rhetoric and reality.
thebaker says
While lots of towns are canceling Veterans Day celebrations Seth Moulton bring in the first-of-its-kind Veterans Day event to MA.
https://moulton.house.gov/news-stories/congressman-moulton-announces-special-veterans-day-town-hall/
kirth says
Parades and public statements of thanks for service (particularly those by sports corporations paid by the DoD) are not substance.
Here’s an idea: how about mandating that veterans who work be given the day off with pay? It’s too late for me since I’ve retired, but it always galled me that not one of my many employers thought to appreciate my service enough to let me have “my” day off. I know government employees get it off, and many of them are veterans, but all schoolchildren also get it off, and none of them are. Surely employers who are so thankful for our service would not discriminate against veterans seeking employment because they’d get one more paid holiday than others …
jconway says
And I hope to see more proactive leadership on these issues, particularly fixing the VA and most importantly, listening to veterans who’ve been there before we send future ones to another conflict.
jconway says
A real no brainer, long overdue
fredrichlariccia says
today HUD Secretary Julian Castro announced the end of veteran homelessness in the state of Virginia along with Governor Terry McAuliffe.
How about the other 49 states ?
Fred Rich LaRiccia
howlandlewnatick says
“Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.”
With whom do we quarrel? Is it the those that deny our colonial ambitions? Those many more that serve as collateral damage? Must we call upon the next generation to continue the plans of the sociopaths that control our government? I hope not.
Let us stop creating misery.
“Peace hath higher tests of manhood
Than battle ever knew.” -~John Greenleaf Whittier
Jasiu says
There was a piece on NPR yesterday about how hollow most of the “thumbs-up” gestures feel to veterans. We all know about those who needs aren’t being met (mental/physical health, homelessness, etc.) but it was also interesting to hear from the more able-bodied veterans who are offended at the hand-outs. Rather than a free meal from a restaurant, they’d rather see a contribution in their name to someone who really needs the meal. Or rather than getting early seating on the plane, why not ask them to help those who really need the assistance? (In some cases, they just want to feel needed again).
jconway says
One of my best friends from childhood and I finally had the chance to catch up this summer, he came back from deployment over a year ago, but he was still wrestling with some issues and he said the best thing to do was to talk-and he’s done a great job being a go to guy anyone in his guard unit or firehouse can call and talk to. Building up those support networks is critical.
I also like what Seth has done locally on getting vets involved in their community. Serving, in any capacity, is often an antidote to the lonliness and depression that can accompany a return to civilian life. The VFW is evolving-from the old Shot and a wash wood panneled make only outposts of yore into a more dynamic community and family focused organization. The Denver post is alcohol free and focused on personal wellness and community service.
Peter Porcupine says
This poem was published a year later by by Moina Michael
We Shall Keep The Faith
Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields,
Sleep sweet – to rise anew!
We caught the torch you threw
And holding high, we keep the Faith
With All who died.
We cherish, too, the poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led;
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies,
But lends a lustre to the red
Of the flower that blooms above the dead
In Flanders Fields.
And now the Torch and Poppy Red
We wear in honor of our dead.
Fear not that ye have died for naught;
We’ll teach the lesson that ye wrought
In Flanders Fields.
She was the person who came up with the idea of wearing a poppy as a symbol for Armistice Day, and that the sale of poppies should benefit wounded veterans of WWI, especially the victims of gas (which happened to my grandmother’s brother, who was disabled for life)
jconway says
I was unfamiliar with that poem, and will appreciate it alongside it’s precursor. Usually the VFW is out in force this week selling poppies in Chicago, and I was sad not to see any.