Patti Bellock- Reflecting on Memorial Day

May 30, 2017

On this Memorial Day, we pause to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our freedoms across the generations. May God Bless our fallen soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guard personnel as well as those they left behind; grieving families and a grateful nation.

I would like to share this poem with you, “In Flanders Fields”, first written in 1915 and often associated with our remembrance of Memorial Day. It was penned by Canadian Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, who was inspired to write it after the funeral of a friend and fellow soldier. This has always been one of my favorites:

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.

 

 

With deepest respect and appreciation to our veterans, military families and the loved ones of those who gave their lives in service to our country –

Patti Bellock

Deputy Minority Leader

State Representative, 47th District
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