Thursday Text: In Flanders Fields

When we were in Kansas City last month, we visited the National World War I Museum at the Liberty Memorial. It is really incredible. The origin of the poppy as the symbol of the war is this poem by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae: In Flanders Fields.

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.