Memorial Day 2020

Happy Memorial Day!

It's been quite a year so far, hasn't it? This virus and our response to it have dominated our lives for more than three months now. I don't know about you, but I'm ready to get off this merry-go-round.

But the world goes on in spite of our preoccupation. Babies are born, couples get married, people buy houses, they move across country, they retire from their jobs, they graduate from school... Life is still going.

Are you living? Or are you just waiting for the virus to end and get everything back to normal?

Today, this Memorial Day, I challenge you to choose to live in the midst of our current situation. This poem should remind all of us that life is short. Don't let some virus steal your precious time!

Memorial Day

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. 

WWI British Cemetery at Abbeville in France, 1918
public domain 

That poem was written May 3, 1915 by John McCrae. He was a Canadian, and a soldier first, and physician second. He had volunteered for service in the Second Boer War, and at the age of 41 volunteered again for duty in World War One. On May 2, 1915, during the second Battle of Ypres, his friend, Alexis Helmer, was killed in battle. Lieutenant Colonel McCrae wrote this poem for his funeral.

Why do we celebrate Memorial Day? So we never forget to remember.

So as we enjoy our picnics, rest, and family time, let us not forget to remember why we hold this day separate from all the rest...

Have a great holiday, a wonderful week, and I'll see you all next Monday when we'll continue part 2 of "Recharging Our Immune Systems."

Jan Drexler is an author by day who is addicted to counted cross stitch and sauntering through the Hills with her dear husband and their puppies - goofy corgi Jack and growing-fast border collie Sam. You can find Jan's books and other fun things on her website: www.JanDrexler.com.