Eaglesfield Honors Lost Military Heroes

In remembrance for the men and women who have served, and continue to serve our country during times of war, conflict and peace.  Also to commemorate the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany in France for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front effected "on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" of 1918.  "Armistice" means an agreement for temporary ceasefire or a truce.

John McCrae, born November 30, 1872 in Guelph, Ontario, served with the Royal Canadian Field Artillery as a gunnery officer in the South African war, and medical officer with the Canadian Medical Corps in World War One.  McCrae's friend, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer was killed near Ypres by an exploding German artillery shell that landed near him.  As the brigade doctor, McCrae was asked to conduct the burial service for Alexis because the chaplain had been called away.  It was after that service it is believed that McCrae penned his now famous poem "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.

~ Lietenant Colonel John McCrae, May 3, 1915
Ypres, Belgium

Au champ d'honneur, les coquelicots
Sont parsemés de lot en lot
Auprès des croix; et dans l'espace
Les alouettes devenues lasses
Mêlent leurs chants au sifflement
Des obusiers.
Nous sommes morts,
Nous qui songions la veille encor'
À nos parents, à nos amis,
C'est nous qui reposons ici,
Au champ d'honneur.
À vous jeunes désabusés,
À vous de porter l'oriflamme
Et de garder au fond de l'âme
Le goût de vivre en liberté.
Acceptez le défi, sinon
Les coquelicots se faneront
Au champ d'honneur.

~ La Gouverne du Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, le 3 mai 1915
Ypres , Belgique

Click the wreath above for The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, "In Flanders Fields"

They shall grow not old, as we that are left to 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. ~ Laurence Binyon

•.¸✽✽¸.•

PS: Sean Hardeman, we're thinking of you . . .