As is my tradition on Stormbirds, I like to stop and take a moment to reflect and remember the brave people who went off to war in our service. In Canada and in many countries around the world, November 11 marks a sombre day where we mark the end of World War I and reflect on the sacrifice of service members.
With many of my articles covering aircraft belonging to the World War I and II eras as well as more modern combat aviation, I think it only appropriate to stop and reflect on a day like today.
This year I do that by sharing yet another popular poem although, depending on where you’re from, maybe something different.
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:
John McCrae
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.
The author of the poem, John McCrae, was born in Guelph, Ontario, Canada and he wrote the poem during the 1915 Ypres salient battle where he tended to wounded soldiers for 17 days. John would not survive the war, falling prey as many did to pneumonia in 1918. His poem, however, lead to the adoption of the red Poppy flower as a symbol of remembrance in several Commonwealth countries.
So, no matter where you’re reading this from, I hope to spread that message of remembering, reflection and peace.
I remember.
Stormbirds 
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