Memorial Day! The weekend which taught me one when I was travelling and looking for a campground, hotel or manger that every American that doesn't own a hotel goes and stays in one. Enjoy and have a great one!

IN FLANDERS FIELDS POEM
By Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae



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

Actually, Flanders Fields has nothing to do with the US.

"Flanders Field American Cemetery and Memorial, a World War I cemetery on the southeast edge of the town of Waregem, Belgium. Poppy flowers began to grow after the burial of the fallen soldiers. In Flanders Fields, a famous poem about World War I written by Canadian Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae."

Flanders Field - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flanders_Field

Flanders Fields was penned in 1915. The US didn't join WWI until 1917... after a lot of the heavy lifting was done.

Maybe - but that does not qualify the statement that Flanders Field had nothing to do with America or American men who lost their lives there - heaving lifting or not.

Maybe - but that does not qualify the statement that Flanders Field had nothing to do with America or American men who lost their lives there - heaving lifting or not.


You are right about when the poem was written but there is also an American cemetary in Belgium called "Flanders Fields" where about 500 Americans killed during WWI are buried. "In Flanders Fields" has long been a part of the American Memorial Day rememberances. Somehow I don't think McCrae would mind. He was lamenting the deaths of soldiers in war not just Canadian soldiers.

I realise that but I'm also a bit fed up with the US appropriating stuff.

I realise that but I'm also a bit fed up with the US appropriating stuff.

Well, we appropriate a lot of their good stuff - movies, music, Roseanne

We don't appropriate it. We buy it.

Don't think oskar will recognize this. It is my perception oskar only sees the faults in America and Americans, as most of his posts seem quick to point. Sometimes, for me at least, oskar comes across like Canada and Canadians are pure as the driven snow, and us 'muricans' are a poor lot up against such a superior people and country.

for me at least, oskar comes across like Canada and Canadians are pure as the driven snow, and us 'muricans' are a poor lot up against such a superior people and country.

Well, it's more like "pure as the driven slush" but you do have the misfortune of being up against the greatest country in the world. It's pretty hard not to appear a bit tawdry and not quite "the Jones" when you are neighbours with the glorious star that is Canada. (Oh shit! I think a bit of Grabem has leaked across the border.)

Thank you, KB and jim ~ I agree with both of you ~

oskar, you're certainly entitled to your opinion, but I'd appreciate if we didn't interrupt a "holiday thread" to air grievances ... especially over things that happened generations ago ~

Sooz

lol. . Believe me Jim. . I realize what is happening here, and I am a great admirer of Canada, but most of the Canadians here do not go continually out of their way making posts showing all the flaws here - in all areas. They comment accordingly without constantly lumping all "muricans" as oskar calls us, together. The Flander's Field post to me was so petty in the scheme of things - it got my dander up.

Hey! I'm cheap, just not easy. Or is it the other way around?

Hey! I'm cheap, just not easy. Or is it the other way around?

Too bad it's not both. I'm going to be in Golden next Tuesday.