Remembering the Fallen on Anzac Day
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 lieIn 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.
"In Flanders Fields" by John McCrae
As we observe ANZAC Day, this poignant poem "In Flanders Fields" by John McCrae serves as a solemn reminder of the sacrifices made by our brave soldiers. The poppies that bloom in Flanders fields symbolize the bloodshed and loss of lives during war, and also represent resilience and remembrance.
On this day, we remember those who have fallen in service of our nations, those who fought valiantly for our freedoms, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice. We reflect on the crosses that mark their place of rest, and the larks that still bravely sing amid the turmoil of war.
The poem also calls upon us, the living, to carry on the torch of remembrance and to continue the legacy of our fallen heroes. It is our duty to honor their memory, to remember their courage, and to strive for peace and unity in our communities and beyond.
As we pay our respects on ANZAC Day, let us not forget the significance of the poppy, a symbol of remembrance and a reminder of the sacrifices made by our servicemen and women. Let us hold the torch of remembrance high and pledge to never break faith with those who have died in service of our nations. Lest we forget.