Memorial Day 2009

Today is Memorial Day here in the US, the day we set aside to honor our fallen service members.  We'd like to share with you two very special poems to mark the day.

Bivouac Of The Dead was written in 1847.

  

To read it in its entirety, please click here.

This next poem is one you all have no doubt heard many times before.  Please take a moment to read it again, and to think about the members of our military who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

In Flanders Fields 

By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918) 

Canadian Army

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. 

And lastly, we'd like to leave you with one of our favorite quotes.  We shared it with you a couple years ago, and would like to do so again.  It's by General George S. Patton, "It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived."

We do honor and we thank God for these men and women who have died fighting for us, in the service of our nation.  Please take time to remember these heroes this Memorial Day.

The Army of Four