Friday, May 27, 2011
















Celebrate Memorial Day

I hope and pray you take time in your busy weekend to thank a soldier., he is willing to lay down his life daily for you and I, to keep us a free Nation, may we always remember them and thank God for them that are willing to go in our place to serve our Country.
Memorial Day, which falls on the last Monday of May, commemorates the men and women who died while serving in the American military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades. Unofficially, at least, it marks the beginning of summer.















The Story Of the poppy!
The story of how the Poppy became an international symbol of remembrance.
The association of the red poppy — the Flanders Poppy — with battlefield deaths as a natural symbol of resurrection and remembrance derives from the fact that the poppy was the first plant to grow in the churned up soil of soldiers' graves in the area of Flanders during the First World War.

It was verses by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, a Canadian Medical Officer, which began the intriguing process by which the Flanders Poppy became immortalised worldwide as the symbol of remembrance:

In Flanders Fields
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.

General John A. Logan

We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.

2 Chronilcles 2:14 "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

I hope you all have a safe and blessed day, remember any free gift comes with a price.

Hugs and Blessings my friends, Barbara

16 comments:

Theresa said...

Yes, thanking those that serve so our country can continue to be free! Have a wonderful weekend :)

Suzette said...

Memorial Day has taken on a whole new meaning with my cousin coming safely home from Afghanistan this month. He serves in the Army and his "job" is to go ahead of the troops and make sure everything is safe for them to go forward. A dangerous job, to say the least! Please pray for his salvation. I am truly thankful for the men in my family who have gone through indescribable circumstances so we can enjoy living in America: my granddaddy, uncle, and now my cousin.

Have you thanked a soldier today? =)

Visits With Mary said...

Loved the meaning of the Poppy..Beatiful Post..Have a great week-end. Blessings!

Beth Herring said...

what a great post my friend. My dad was in the Air Force and served in Vietnam, so this is precious to my heart.

Phyllis Blickensderfer said...

I haven't been able to visit (company we're enjoying!) as much as I'd like. I've worked on my Monday's post. My in-laws lost their son in 1944 during WWII. It just seems never to end. God bless and have a safe weekend.

Sandra Henderson said...

Yes, We LOVE our soldiers here!!!! Goodness, gracious, so many have sacrificed for our Country. Where would be without them!?!?
I was in London in Nov. and have a poppy from their Memorial Day/Service Day, from outside the Westminster Abbey. There were many older men and women, WWII I'm sure...
XO

Kathleen said...

I think my favorite aspect of Memorial Day is the singing of all the old patriotic tunes. "When Johnny Comes Marching Home", comes to mind; as does the "Grapes of Wrath".

What a precious day it is: a day to remember Who granted us our freedoms, and who & how many fought to uphold that granting.

Blessings to you & yours,
Kathleen

Farming On Faith said...

Wonderful post!
Happy Memorial Day!

Empty Nester said...

Thanks for posting In Flanders Fields---I haven't heard that in such a long time!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Gorgeous post. Thanks so much. We don't ever need to stop thanking those service men and women who did (and are doing) so much for OUR FREEDOM. God Bless them ALL.

Happy Memorial Day.
Hugs,
Betsy
P.S. I love poppies --and loved reading more about the Poppy. Thanks, Barbara.

Anonymous said...

I'm **so thankful** for those who gave so much so that I can live free.

Anonymous said...

Blessings to you Barbara. This is a lovely post and I enjoyed the info about the poppies as well. There are many growing in the medians around here this time of the year.

Joyfull said...

Beautiful and informative post. I join so many today with thankful hearts as we remember the sacrifice of many past and present.

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Smelling Coffee said...

Hi Barbara~ You have such a special blog. I'm glad you stopped by SmellingCoffee so I could meet you. I didn't know the info about the Poppy. Thanks for sharing from your heart.

Blessings of the Lord to you~
Jennifer

Kateri said...

A beautiful post. Love the story of the poppy.