Lest We Forget…
Tuesday, November 11 — Veterans Day — Remembrance Day
This is the day set aside to remember our Veterans who fought, and in many cases gave their lives, so we might enjoy freedom here in this country.
What are you doing to remember those who fought for our freedom today?
As for me, I got up this morning and made sure I put my poppy on my shirt collar. It’s the least I can do in order to show respect, honor, and remembrance for those who bravely fought in past wars, and are currently fighting in wars today. However, as I, along with many others, choose to remember our veterans today, some schools have decided to not teach about Veterans Day. They say the topic is no longer relevant for our young people. This is an outrageous claim, and it’s a news story pretty much flying under the radar.
Students today need to understand and know this is not just another day off from school. This is a day to remember those who fought for our freedom.
Lest We Forget…
It was November 1994 and I found myself as the Pastor of a church in Warkworth, Ontario, Canada. My Pastoral Assistant was a man by the name of Jim Pegg. As November 11th approached, Jim came into my office and asked me if we were planning anything for Remembrance Day. (That’s what Veterans Day is called in Canada.) Before I could answer him, Jim concluded his question by saying —
“Lest we forget.”
He then left my office as I pondered what we could do in church to remember our veterans. Jim, you see, was a veteran of World War II. He was actually awarded the Queens Medal of Honor in England for service above and beyond the call of duty. Jim, like many other veterans, didn’t speak of his war experiences a lot. I remember asking him numerous times why he was awarded the Queens Medal. Most times he simply responded by saying, “Oh it’s for a mission I went on.” Finally one day I did get him to give me a few more details, and I want to emphasize the word few.
He said very little about the mission, but one day he did tell me…
“I went on a mission to blow up a bridge. I had the dynamite on my back. I was the only one on the mission who returned.”
I couldn’t sleep the night when Jim asked me what our plans were for Remembrance Day. Early the next morning I called him on the phone and said, “Jim, I forgot. Please forgive me, and I never want to forget this day again.” I put Jim in charge of the service that year, and every year after during our ministry time in Warkworth. Those services are the most memorable I’ve ever had.
As we find ourselves on another Veterans Day, lets not forget our brave men and women in the military.
In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army
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.
From the Arlington National Cemetery Website
What are your plans for this Veterans Day? Please feel free to leave me a comment on this blog post.
Just my two cents,
Dr. Rus
Dr. Rus,
I have two poppies in my car. Since my son was born a little over two years ago, I make it a point to stop by one of the Veteran’s tables when they are giving out poppies and get one. I make a donation and tell my son that it is important to remember what the veterans have done for us and continue to do for us. Their efforts are one of the main reasons we live in the country that we do today. It is important to me that my son understands this, and that is why I make it a point to do this.