Rememberance Day

[RACooper]

This Rememberance Day (or Veteran's Day) please take the time to remember those Brothers and Sisters that have suffered or died in the name of peace and freedom. Please take the time to think of those who have passed this last year, and pray for those who are struggling and suffering now. Finally take the time to say a simple "thanks" to a veteran today - it'll mean more than you can know.

Finally a poem from Col. John McRae - Zeta Psi, University of Toronto chapter - a poem recited today all across the British Commonwealth and elsewhere.

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.

This poem is of special significance for Greeks, as it was written by one Brother trying to memorialize another Brother: John McRae remembering his Zeta Psi Brother Alexis Helmer who was killed instantly by a direct hit from an 8 inch German shell. What body parts could be found were later gathered into sandbags and laid in an army blanket for burial that evening. Lieutenant Helmer was buried on 2 May. In the absence of the chaplain Major John McCrae conducted a simple service at the graveside, reciting from memory some passages from the Church of England's 'Order of Burial of the Dead'. A wooden cross marked the burial place; a grave that has since been lost. John McRae composed the poem sitting on the rearstep of an ambulance the next day while looking at Helmer's grave and the vivid red poppies that were springing up amongst the graves in the burial ground.

[RACooper]

Just adding the two most requested songs from the noon-to-one request hour on the campus radio up here:

The Pogues - The Band Played Waltzing Matilda
Dropkick Murphy's - Green Fields of France

I have to say I was really impressed by the number of students that showed for the school-children's service yesterday, and the numbers that stood at the tower listening to the Clarion and piper playing a tribute today by the Memorials on campus.

The log book records thanks from children and adults from the Netherlands, Turkey, Afghanistan, France, America, the UK, China, Australia, Italy, Serbia, Poland, Russia, Cyprus, Lebanon, Croatia, Israel, Jordan, Vietnam, Cambodia, South Korea, Rwanda, the Congo, Bosnia, Greece, Belgium, Ireland, and Northern Ireland... it's hard to describe the emotions collecting the log & message book to be sent to the troops in Afghanistan and seeing so many thanks, wishes of peace, and prayers from so many faiths.

[jon1856]

To all those who have served their Country, both abroad and at home, we say Thanks.
http://mrmom.amaonline.com/special/womenareveterans.htm
http://mrmom.amaonline.com/veteran.htm
http://mrmom.amaonline.com/special/whatisavet.htm
http://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/
http://www.history.com/minisite.do?c...e&mini_id=1085
http://members.aol.com/veterans/warlib69.htm
http://www.military.com/Content/More...ml?ESRC=dod.nl
http://www.greatwar.nl/
http://www.dreamwater.com/raferty/veterans.html
And Happy Birthday USMC!!

Jonathan A. Cohen
O Valiant Hearts
“ O valiant hearts who to your glory came
through dust of conflict and through battle flame;
tranquil you lie, your knightly virtue proved,
your memory hallowed in the land you loved.
Proudly you gathered, rank on rank, to war
as who had heard God's message from afar;
all you had hoped for, all you had, you gave,
to save mankind — yourselves you scorned to save.”
Taken from:
John Stanhope Arkwright’s hymn “O Valiant Hearts”.

[Tom Earp]

May We as people of the world please take the time and think and thank those who are not only serving now but who have died for the many of us in a time of need.

God Bless each and everyone of them, Male and Female.