Lest We Forget
Today in Canada (Remembrance Day) and the United States (Veterans Day) is a day that has been set aside to honor those who have served and are serving in our respective armed forces – it is their collective bravery that has given our two great nations the freedoms that we enjoy and often take for granted. Recently and over the decades, many of our soldiers have come home with all sorts of scars – physical scars, emotional scars, and mental scars. Others have not walked off the plane onto North American soil but rather have been carried off in flag-covered coffins. They have paid the ultimate price. They have given their lives for freedom.
The other common name for this day of course is Armistice Day which marks the date and time when armies stopped fighting World War I on November 11th at 11:00 am in 1918 (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month). Ten million combatants would die, including 60,000 Canadians and 116,000 Americans, before the “Great War” ended with Germany’s defeat on this day 101 years ago. The last 100 days of that war was an epic Canada-dominated finale that began with an all-out attack on German positions on August 8, 1918, a major turning point for the allies.
Here at BMR we hope that you will join us as we remember and honor our men and women who have served and who are serving in our armed forces, protecting our continent and standing up for freedom and liberty throughout the world. We are truly grateful for their bravery and sacrifices, and may God continue to protect and bless our two nations.
In Flanders Fields
By Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, May 1915
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.
Lest We Forget
The BMR Team
WELL SAID BMR.
THANK YOU…THE WORLD NEEDS REMINDED.
As an aside, I have often thought that 3 years of active duty military service should be a prerequisite for election to Congress here in the U. S.
Comment by bigbill — November 11, 2019 @ 4:16 am
Hear, hear! Thank you
Comment by Foz1971 — November 11, 2019 @ 9:58 am
Yes, well said Jon. I think far too many of us take for granted the freedoms we have because of the sacrifice of others. There are many in the world who suffer under the tyranny of oppressive dictatorships and don’t get to enjoy the same freedoms we have. We are very lucky!!
Comment by Danny — November 11, 2019 @ 12:13 pm