Veteran's Day 2014

Back in my school days, I memorized a poem every month--Shakespeare, Keats, Longfellow, Frost, Poe, Dickinson. Some were long and flowery (Will Shakespeare I'm talking to you) and others were shorter and more fluid. Quite a few (ok, most) of those poems have disappeared from my memory, but there are four or five that have stayed with me through the years. 
"In Flanders Field" is one of those poems that carved itself into my memory. I remember standing with my mom in the park, red poppies tucked in our lapels, as one of our town's World War II veterans recited it from memory. He stood as straight and tall as he could without his cane; his bomber jacket decorated with unit patches and merit awards, his cap proclaiming him a Proud Army Veteran; his hands shook just a little, but his voice was full and strong. 

In Flanders Field

-LtCol 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.

Today, more than ten years after that speech, I'm sitting next to another veteran--my husband. I see the same bravery, the same courage and strength of character in him and his fellow service members today as I did on that day at the war memorial. 
Today, on this Veteran's Day, I kiss my husband's cheek and thank him for being the man that he is and serving his country.

Today on this Veteran's Day, we, as a nation, shed a few tears for the thousands of men and women who give their lives protecting the country we live in. 

Today on this Veteran's Day, we take a few moments out of our lives to thank those who protect our freedom every day of the year. We thank them for their bravery, their courage, their sacrifice, but really we can never thank them enough. 

Today, on this Veteran's Day, I hope you take the time to be thankful for those who serve in the US Armed Forces.  One day just isn't enough. But it's a start. 

Today and every day please take the time to thank a service member.