This Sunday, in a special reflection for Veterans Day, the choir will sing “In Flanders Fields”.  The lyrics were written as a poem by Dr. John McCrae during World War I.  The Western Front ran through an area between France and Belgium called Flanders.  The area was marked by trenches and no man’s land, and… thousands of poppies.

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, in Flanders fields.
 
Take up your 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, in Flanders fields.

Veterans Day began as Armistice Day after the cessation of fighting in WW I.  After WW II the international holiday’s name was changed to Veterans Day in the US and Remembrance Day in the UK.  Veterans Day honors all who have served in the US military.  Remembrance Day honors those who died in service of their country.  The choir will wear poppies in honor of both the living and the dead.