Veterans Day 2012

It's Veterans Day and as I was putting in keywords on some of my pictures of poppies, I was reminded of the red poppies that were sold and worn on the lapels of the older generation of my youth. I did a quick search and found that the red poppy's symbol for Veterans Day is attributed, in part, to a poem by John McCrae which I found on Wikipedia. I included the poem below, along with my gratitude to all the Veterans, past and present.

 In Flanders Fields John McCrae 

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.