The Town of Odyssey

I spent an hour this morning watching the Remembrance Day ceremonies from Ottawa on TV. It's a family tradition, and always a moving experience. I hope that other people were able to make this day special in whatever way is appropriate for them.

In Canada, the poem "In Flanders Field" by John McCrae (written in 1915) is known by many. I'm not sure if it is as well known elsewhere, but I'm sharing it below as a sign of remembrance.

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.