Thank you Carol........here's another favorite of mine:
PLEASE WEAR A POPPY
"Please wear a poppy," the lady said
And held one forth, but I shook my head.
Then I stopped and watched as she offered them there,
And her face was old and lined with care;
But beneath the scars the years had made
There remained a smile that refused to fade.
A boy came whistling down the street,
Bouncing along on care-free feet.
His smile was full of joy and fun,
"Lady," said he, "may I have one?"
When she's pinned in on he turned to say,
"Why do we wear a poppy today?"
The lady smiled in her wistful way
And answered, "This is Remembrance Day,
And the poppy there is the symbol for
The gallant men who died in war.
And because they did, you and I are free -
That's why we wear a poppy, you see.
"I had a boy about your size,
With golden hair and big blue eyes.
He loved to play and jump and shout,
Free as a bird he would race about.
As the years went by he learned and grew
and became a man - as you will, too.
"He was fine and strong, with a boyish smile,
But he'd seemed with us such a little while
When war broke out and he went away.
I still remember his face that day
When he smiled at me and said, Goodbye,
I'll be back soon, Mom, so please don't cry.
"But the war went on and he had to stay,
And all I could do was wait and pray.
His letters told of the awful fight,
(I can see it still in my dreams at night),
With the tanks and guns and cruel barbed wire,
And the mines and bullets, the bombs and fire.
"Till at last, at last, the war was won -
And that's why we wear a poppy son."
The small boy turned as if to go,
Then said, "Thanks, lady, I'm glad to know.
That sure did sound like an awful fight,
But your son - did he come back all right?"
A tear rolled down each faded check;
She shook her head, but didn't speak.
I slunk away in a sort of shame,
And if you were me you'd have done the same;
For our thanks, in giving, if oft delayed,
Thought our freedom was bought - and thousands paid!
And so when we see a poppy worn,
Let us reflect on the burden borne,
By those who gave their very all
When asked to answer their country's call
That we at home in peace might live.
Then wear a poppy! Remember - and give!
~~By Don Crawford.~~
The names of those Canadians that paid the Ultimate Sacrifice:
South African War / Nile Expedition : http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/general/sub.cfm?source=collections/books/safrica
Books of Remembrance (World War I) : http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/general/sub.cfm?source=collections/books/bww1
Books of Remembrance (World War II) : http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/general/sub.cfm?source=collections/books/bww2
Newfoundland's Book of Remembrance (listed separately because they entered Confederation in 1949) http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/general/sub.cfm?source=collections/books/newf
The Korean War : http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/general/sub.cfm?source=collections/books/bkorea
Merchant Navy: http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/general/sub.cfm?source=collections/books/bmerchant
In the Service of Canada : http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=collections/books/7thbook&CFID=8275013&CFTOKEN=57459422
Most recent......Operation Enduring Freedom:
http://www.icasualties.org/oef/byNationality.aspx?hndQry=Canada
"THE INQUISITIVE MIND OF A CHILD"
Why are they selling poppies, Mummy?
Selling poppies in town today.
The poppies, child, are flowers of love.
For the men who marched away.
But why have they chosen a poppy, Mummy?
Why not a beautiful rose?
Because my child, men fought and died
In the fields where the poppies grow.
But why are the poppies so red, Mummy?
Why are the poppies so red?
Red is the colour of blood, my child.
The blood that our soldiers shed.
The heart of the poppy is black, Mummy.
Why does it have to be black?
Black, my child, is the symbol of grief.
For the men who never came back.
But why, Mummy are you crying so?
Your tears are giving you pain.
My tears are my fears for you my child.
For the world is forgetting again.
Author Unknown
This message was edited Nov 11, 2006 2:19 PM
