On November 11 in many countries across the world, we take a moment to pause, reflect, and remember our veterans of past conflicts. It’s a tradition I’ve continued to stick to here on this blog and so on this November 11 let’s take a moment to remember.

November 11 at 11:11 am marked the end of World War I. At the end of this long conflict, it started to become a tradition to mark the occasion and it has since evolved into an act of remembrance.

You may know it by different names or you may celebrate it on different days depending on the local custom but the meaning is the same. Remembering the end of a terrible conflict with the hopes of preventing others.

We continue to struggle with that last part but I hold out some hope that one day we will figure it out.

I’ll leave you with the famous poem by Canadian poet, soldier, and physician, John McCrae. This is “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.