Who We Are

Sunday, May 24, 2009

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

27 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:51 AM

    Fab tribute! Bless all of those men and women who have fallen... and continue to bless those who serve today.
    HUGS,
    Sitka

    ReplyDelete
  2. Amen! God Bless America. To those men and woman who are serving and protecting us daily. GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

    (Wonderful Posting Dear friend of my garden!)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous10:24 AM

    Hi Army of 4 - I'm not sure which pup is posing with the poppy, but great job and very touching. Thanks for your post today. Tank
    P.S. Come visit me sometime... we seem to be neighbors.

    ReplyDelete
  4. We have never read the Bivouac of the Dead - amazing!
    Thanks for that - a lovely tribute and a special day to both honour and remember.

    It is good we all take time out to reflect.

    love
    Martha & Bailey xx

    ReplyDelete
  5. Just beautiful - we knew it would be coming from the Army of Four and their humans. God bless America.
    Woos, the OP Pack

    ReplyDelete
  6. Another wonderful Memorial day tribute, guys!
    God bless our soldiers!

    Love ya lots,
    Maggie and Mitch

    ReplyDelete
  7. A beautiful Memorial Day tribute today from the Army of Four. God bless all those who serve our country!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Well rooed there AO4. Both J and K's dads are vets.

    Paws in salute!

    Ozzie

    ReplyDelete
  9. Excellent tribute ~ thank you! We find it hard to know how to react when people say Happy Memorial Day. To us it is a solemn observance as we remember and honor those who gave their lives for our country. But we are also happy there were (and still are!)people willing to sacrifice so much for our freedom. We just want to be worthy of them.

    prrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrs and tail wags,
    Zeke, Sushi, Tiger Lily and Ruckus

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wonderful tribute!!!

    We are thankful for the men and women that serve and have served our country!

    Chasing my tale...
    Addie, Lucie, and Hailey

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thank you for the tribute. It is beautiful. We are lucky to have men and women who will make the ultimate sacrifice for the rest of us.

    Roxie, Sammy & Andy

    ReplyDelete
  12. So many flowers of the field, gone.

    A worthy and wonderful tribute, thank you.

    We honour these brave men, they gave their tomorrow, so we could have our today.

    We will never forget.

    Bless all the men and women who serve us to preserve our freedom.

    Thank you for your wise words and the wonderful poems, the first one I was unaware of totally. Thank you for sharing.

    A sombre Jeannie xxxxxx

    and of course, Marvin xxxxx

    ReplyDelete
  13. Yes, indeed, we are SAFER. I put another comment after yours on Marv's blog - just to clarify.

    I was not sure about the wording of the poem to be honest, I was worried it might not have the right "tone" I wanted, but it seemed to be kinda what I wanted to say.

    But yes, SAFER, is good.

    So glad we feel safe. I feel so sad for the young guys out there, so sad.

    Jeannie xxxxxxxxxx With many tears.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Tears for me. Beautiful tribute. You may want to take a look at our post today from Ft. Sam Natl Cemetary.
    I ditto you on wiser -still to see. Safer, most definitely.
    Hugs
    Sunny,Scooter&Jamie
    PS I have always loved that quote from Patton. Thank you for remembering it(I didn't. But my excuse is it has been a tough last 4 days...)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Great tribute..
    Patton is our hero...

    Big Sloppy Kisses
    Gus, Louie and Callie

    ReplyDelete
  16. Great post guys. Happy Memorial Day!

    ReplyDelete
  17. What a wonderful tribute. God bless our courageous servicemen and women.

    ReplyDelete
  18. We knew that you would have a wonderful tribute today. You did not disappoint us!

    Thank you


    Princess Eva

    ReplyDelete
  19. Very nice tribute.

    Huffle Mawson

    ReplyDelete
  20. A beautiful memorial post you four!

    Holly & Zac...XX

    ReplyDelete
  21. That was a beautiful tribute!

    Mochi

    ReplyDelete
  22. Thanks for sharing your beautiful tribute!
    Kisses and hugs
    Lorenza

    ReplyDelete
  23. Excellent tribute - thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  24. That was a pawsome tribute!
    Big licks to you
    Suzuki
    xxx

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hope you had a great Memorial Day! :) We did and I love the horse pictures below. :) You should have your dad take you with him so you can taste test some of the delectable candy they make. ;)

    Nala

    ReplyDelete
  26. Very nice tribute. I thought for a minute that Dave might provide a Haik-woo as well.

    Kat

    ReplyDelete