Poem: To Honor Those Who Lived a Cause

Flowers and flags in devoted array
A loving tribute this Memorial Day
This moment this day and so a pause
To honor those who lived a cause
With valor and sacrifice life they gave
And embraced the call yet to be brave
Answered they did to liberty's plea
That freedom be held for a you, a me
Memory of each life gone never to fade
Live we life's blessings for sacrifice made.

In loving gratitude to all who served and serve in faith ever new.
...lest we forget...

Rose Marie Raccioppi
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York

Flanders Fields, Painting, Willy Werner.

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.

John McCrae, May 1915

Major John McCrae was second in command of the 1st Brigade Canadian Field Artillery during the Second Battle of Ypres in April and May 1915.

http://www.greatwar.co.uk/poems/john-mccrae-in-flanders-fields-inspirati...

In Flanders Fields - Lest We Forget - YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=BsOsdGtBBTg