# Remembrance Day **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 11, 2015, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembrance-day/737279 "2015-11-11T12:21:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembrance-day/737279/1 "2015-11-11T12:21:36Z")
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 McRae ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembrance-day/737279/2 "2015-11-11T12:29:05Z")
Amen to that. ---
**Author:** ![boffking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembrance-day/737279/3 "2015-11-11T12:42:57Z")
That is the memorial day poem. For the holiday in May. ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembrance-day/737279/4 "2015-11-11T13:09:10Z")
> [@boffking](#): > > That is the memorial day poem. For the holiday in May. [In Flanders Fields](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Flanders_Fields) is a poem that figures very prominently in Canadian Remembrance Day services. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembrance-day/737279/5 "2015-11-11T14:32:46Z")
I had the opportunity to visit the Flanders area of Belgium this summer, and went all around the Ieper/Ypres area. The 100th anniversary of WWI commenced last year and there are commemorative events planned all the way through 2018. [This slideshow](http://nancywbeach.zenfolio.com/p130988921/slideshow) contains a collection of photos I took of the WWI cemeteries and memorials while I was there, including [Essex Farm Cemetery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essex_Farm_Commonwealth_War_Graves_Commission_Cemetery), which is contained within [Site John McCrae,](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Site_John_McCrae) where McCrae served and wrote his famous poem. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembrance-day/737279/6 "2015-11-11T14:46:16Z")
> [@boffking](#): > > That is the memorial day poem. For the holiday in May. For the day today, Armistice Day, 11th November. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembrance-day/737279/7 "2015-11-11T17:11:29Z")
“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them.” [Ode of Remembrance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ode_of_Remembrance) ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembrance-day/737279/8 "2015-11-11T17:12:30Z")
Our house is shaking from the 21 gun salute down the street at the Legislature. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembrance-day/737279/9 "2015-11-11T17:23:42Z")
> **[Armistice Day: Nation remembers war dead](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34783337)** > > A two-minute silence is observed across the UK to remember those who died in the two World Wars and all conflicts since. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembrance-day/737279/10 "2015-11-11T17:26:20Z")
Watching the national ceremony in Ottawa on tv with the Piper Cub. He has a lot of questions. ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembrance-day/737279/11 "2015-11-11T17:44:09Z")
\ Mentions of Remembrance Day always remind me of this verse from one of my favorite Canadian bands. “Little girls come on Remembrance Day Placing flowers on his grave. She waits (in) the shadows `till after dark Just to Sweep them all away.” \ ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembrance-day/737279/12 "2015-11-11T18:41:31Z")
Who is the “she” in that verse? That’s sad. Was is a family member? ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembrance-day/737279/13 "2015-11-11T21:18:27Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > Who is the “she” in that verse? That’s sad. Was is a family member? Maybe the fallen soldier’s daughter? Just a guess, hopefully **shunpiker** will set us straight. I’ve posted about this before: Canadian physician and Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae’s poem, _In Flanders Fields_, is the theme just inside the entrance to the U.S. National WWI Museum in Kansas City, MO. On entering, one walks over a glass bridge with thousands of silk poppies, 1 for each of our fallen (IIRC), and the poem is posted there as well. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembrance-day/737279/14 "2015-11-11T21:24:30Z")
My best wishes and respects on this day to all of my British, Canadian, Australian and other Commonwealth Doper friends. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembrance-day/737279/15 "2015-11-11T21:25:20Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Maybe the fallen soldier’s daughter? Just a guess, hopefully **shunpiker** will set us straight. > I’ve posted about this before: Canadian physician and Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae’s poem, _In Flanders Fields_, is the theme just inside the entrance to the U.S. National WWI Museum in Kansas City, MO. On entering, one walks over a glass bridge with thousands of silk poppies, 1 for each of our fallen (IIRC), and the poem is posted there as well. Here’s a photo. It’s one poppy per thousand WWI dead, and not just American ones either. [http://theclio.com/web/ul/16413.31269.jpg](http://theclio.com/web/ul/16413.31269.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembrance-day/737279/16 "2015-11-11T22:39:02Z")
It’s a very obscure reference and I’m not sure there’s a real story there. I’ve guess I’ve never listened to the words closely enough to make sense of it all, so I did some research today. The tune\* seems to be in reference to (Canadian) Tom Thompson (painter; not a veteran) and his wife/lover as “the sweeper”. Though, you’re right, that line reinforces the feeling of conflict within the tune. Nevertheless, it always reminds me of Remembrance (and Veteran’s) Day. And the day reminds me of that song. Similarly, the 24th of May always reminds me of the song, “Lakeside Park”… and vice-versa. \* It’s a tune called “3 Pistols” from the Tragically Hip. Those guys have always been pretty spacey. ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembrance-day/737279/17 "2015-11-12T04:41:29Z")
From Australia’s experience rather than Canada’s, but two songs about the Great War that always get to me: _[The Band Played Waltzing Matilda](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RsKhOk7NxI)_ and _[Jingle Jangle](http://ericbogle.net/lyrics/lyricspdf/jinglejangle.pdf)_, both by Eric Bogle.