Veterans Day

As most of you probably know, Monday, November 11th, is Veterans Day in the United States.  I would like to take this time to say "Thank You" to all the Veterans that have served our country.  I have the utmost respect for the military and appreciate their many sacrifices. Thank You just doesn't seem sufficient.

I also have a smaller international audience.  November 11 is also Armistice Day (also known as Remembrance Day or Poppy Day).  I have mentioned in the past that my husband, daughters and I lived for a short time in Canada.  While living there, I noticed that all the Canadians in November wore red poppies on their lapels everywhere they went.  This was a new concept to me, one I quite liked.  It showed a sense of country unity and respect and a remembrance for fallen soldiers.  It was inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields" by John McCrae, May 1915:

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.

I would love it if more Americans would wear the poppies too.  So, again, my sincerest thank you to all the Veterans today and always.