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.
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 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.
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.
From - http://www.greatwar.co.uk/poems/john-mccrae-in-flanders-fields.htm
My eldest daughter learned this poem in grade five.
These are mini Canadian flags.
They have been 'planted' on the front lawn of the Manulife building.
A truly impressive sight.
This is the main entrance to the building but ...
while the display is on the lawn, everyone has to enter through a side door. The front gates are locked.
The banners are in English...
and in French. We are a bi-lingual country.
There are 11,843 flags. Each flag represents 10 fallen soldiers from the time of the Boer War until present.
Click on any of the photos to get a closer, bigger view.
One last close-up.
Just to the east of the flag display is this wonderful work of art.
If you look at the 'person' depicted on the far right...
it's a young person rollerblading. Whenever I see it, I smile and think of my middle daughter Maili who worked for the groundskeeper during the summer while she was studying landscape architecture at university. She rollerbladed to work everyday. This was installed after she left. It's not her but it reminds me of her whenever I see it.
Stunning statues, and the flags, what a memorial for the fallen, the brave, those who have given their all for those who have freedon today.
ReplyDeleteWonderful Post
ReplyDeleteThank you for such a great post. Have you seen the Terry Kelly 5 minute video on youtube? It's called a Pittance of Time and it's about taking the 2 minute break at the 11th hour on this day to remember those who fought in the war.
ReplyDeleteWOW!! Thanks for sharing! Very impressive indeed!!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this! I used to work for Manulife and in that very building and it is so heartwarming that they would take the time to honour our fallen. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWe memorized this poem in grammar school as well. Very nice post.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Dolores! Wonderful photos too.
ReplyDeleteThis flag installation was on the news - did you see it? I don't know who thought of doing this, but they deserve a lot of accolades.
ReplyDelete