In Flanders Fields

During the early days of the Second Battle of Ypres a young Canadian artillery officer, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, was killed on 2nd May, 1915.  As the brigade doctor, Major John McCrae was asked to conduct the burial service for Alexis because the chaplain had been called away somewhere else on duty that evening.  It is believed that later that evening, after the burial, John began the draft for his now famous poem “In Flanders Fields”.

-In Flanders Fields-

By Major 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.

Lest We Forget