Friday, November 11, 2011

My Favorite Veteran

My dad loved freedom and wide open spaces. He was born in Ontario, Canada in 1890.  In his late teens he worked his way across Canada wrangling and taming horses, until he ended up in northern Wyoming. When World War I broke out, he tried to enlist in the US Army, but failed the physical because of an old eye injury.  Because freedom was so important to him, he returned to the land of his birth and enlisted in the Royal Canadian Army where he served in the Canadian Railway Construction Corp.  When the war was over, he returned to Wyoming and enlisted in the National Guard until his discharge in 1924. He knew that freedom was worth fighting for even when obstacles were thrown in his way.

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.

7 comments:

  1. Like your post. My thought today was also to thank those who served.

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  2. Very nice. I can remember when they used to sell Poppies at the post office I believe. Thanks for sharing. Have a great day on this cloudy day.

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  3. Ohhh I have been seeing those wonderful red poppies everywhere. [o= I am sad that we couldn't get to a place that holds a Remembrance Day ceremony. We will be quiet at 11am this morning and thank the Lord for all that fought for freedom.

    Blessings in Him<><
    -Mary

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  4. Thanks to him and all the other vets too - for keeping America the land of the free. sandie

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  5. A lovely tribute to a fine man with a heart to serve! I have also enjoyed reading your previous posts and getting a glimpse of your childhood days. :)

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  6. Love your post! thank you for sharing...God bless you...loves soraya

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