Sorry that I have been remiss in posting anything this week, but we have been spending every spare minute trying to organise the event which I publicised for Saturday. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, we have had to postpone it today. This is obviously a great disappointment to us and more so to the Mtaala Foundation (http://www.mtaala.org/Mtaala_Foundation.html) who were to gain from the proceeds to further their fantastic work. Hopefully, this can be rearranged for the near future, and I will let you know in due course.
Coincidentally, an envelope dropped through my door this week from the Royal British Legion (http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/) for their fundraising campaign coinciding with Armistice Day, this year. It contained a large poppy. The intention is for people to make a donation to the charity and to send the poppy back, to be 'planted' at the historic Menin Gate in Flanders.
For those not in Britain, who are unaware of the symbolism, the poppy is worn across the UK on and before Armistice Day each year, to remember and pay respects to the fallen of all Wars, on what we refer to as 'Remembrance Day.' I have said before in this blog that I have no understanding of why anyone would wish to enlist in the armed forces, however, this does not negate the need to remember those that have, and have paid the ultimate price. I, along with the vast majority of the country, wear our poppies with pride.
Along with the poppy was a leaflet with 'In Flanders Fields' on the reverse. In tribute to this campaign, I will transcribe the poem here and share it with readers.
In Flanders Fields
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.
(Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD)
John McCrae is remembered for what is probably the best known and popular of all World War I poetry. It is believed the he was so moved by the death of his friend Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, who had been killed by a shell burst, and inspired by the profusion of wild poppies he could see in the nearby cemetery, that he wrote 'In Flanders Fields'. Sadly John McCrae did not survive WWI; he died from pneumonia whilst on active duty in 1918.
Source: British Legion Campaign Leaflet 2012
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