They gave their tomorrows so we could have ours…

A flower that has come to resemble the lost lives of the fallen hero’s of our nation, the weight this tiny & delicate flower has come to bear on its shoulders is imminence, Papaver or the common name it is known by is the poppy, this fragile flower has to carry’s the brunt of a nation in mourning, reflection and remembrance, & yet no matter which war we talk about, the subject invariably turns to the senseless loss of life… yet many more people at home, are touched by those loved ones left behind in a cold grave in foreign lands… in places with names no one could pronounce until a loved one stays behind with his comrades, left behind in body only, dying there for King or Queen, but his name lives on… in any bloody conflict those that fought the battles and survived, came home with the horrors of war imprinted on their minds forever to be with them, day and night, young and old, wounded or discharged they alike will still be fighting their own battles and demons for many years to come…

All i ask is that this year, please, like every year, give what you can afford, and where the Poppy of Remembrance with pride…

Everyone ought to take this time to thank those of all conflicts for their selfless acts and sacrifice, because today, as the future generation, we owe them so much, we are enjoying the freedom that was bestowed upon us by their actions …

Fred’s End Note…

Many times throughout our history, when boys grew up to be men…

In Flanders Fields

BY 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.

As we mark many years since the capitulation of the German and Italian armies, with this special Victory in Europe Weekend… let’s not forget that we enjoy our freedom today, due to those who sacrificed their own freedom, so we can enjoy our lifestyles. Their sacrifices were made to break the chain of oppression & tyranny…

Fred’s End Note: Because Fred served at home, due to his occupation, here is another tale.