Lest We Forget
World War I Messenger French Bulldog
A note of thanks this Remembrance day to all of our Veterans, for all that they have done for us in all of our wars.
In Canada and many commonwealth countries, Remembrance day is celebrated through memorials, and by wearing the poppy on our lapel.
The poppy symbolizes our war dead, and is immortalized in the famous poem “In Flanders Field”, written by Canadian army Doctor Lieutenant Colonel 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.
By the way, this will be the first year that no World War I Veterans were present at Westminster Cathedral to help celebrate the Armistice Day Celebrations. The final surviving British WWI veteran is in his 100’s, and lives in Australia.
A few French Bulldogs have done their part through the years – the image above shows a small brindle French Bulldog acting as a messenger dog during World War I.
Perhaps he had answered this ad, which ran in the New York Times –
Of course, the most famous War French Bulldog is likely the fictional “Dumbo”, hero of the World War II children’s illustrated book “Gunner and the Dumbo”. After their fighter plane crashes, Dumbo’s big Frenchie ears help him to save the day, and the life of his pilot pal.
I memorized the poem “Flanders Field” in junior high because I thought it was so very powerful. I had no idea until now it was written by a Canadian.
.-= Jan´s last blog ..Change of command of Marine Mascot =-.
Four of my Great-Grand-Uncles and many Great-Grand-Cousins lost their lifes fighting World War I. Both my late Grand Fathers were World War II veterans; my late Father in Law charged with the Polish Lanciers against the Panzers (yep, horses against tanks) and ended up as a slave laborer in Nazi Germany. That he survived both is nothing short of a miracle! As children of war, both my parents ran for their lives to escape the bombing of their cities. As a young man, my Dad fought the Suez War, short as it was, with the French Navy.
Three generations harvested and bent through the fire of war…
We have no idea of the suffering and sacrifices they went through! We know nothing about being invaded, humiliated, starved; we know nothing but Peace and we take it for granted!
Some of us, however, know what it is like to see a loved one go to war, know all too well the burden of fear and anxiety that comes with it. They are our Army families and I salute them with deepest respect.
Lest we forget, indeed!
I will never forget what these brave men and women did for us and so many made the ultimate sacrifice. We are so fortunate because of them. I am lucky in my town to still have quite a few veterans living here. My neighbourhood streets are all named after vet’s and all the street signs have poppies on them.