The allies who fought the war we would come to know as World War I called it "The Great War For Civilization". Though it was fought nearly a hundred years ago, there is still much within it for us to learn. In study, the most important sources are those from the era, the accounts of those who were there, who saw it whether from the battlefield or from home. We hear a lot of commentary from learned (or perhaps not so learned as they might think) people who analyze The Great War from the perspective of today. It is wise to look for ourselves to the genuine experience of the people who lived it, and then to make our own determination of what those experiences have to teach us.
For me, some of these lessons are captured in the poem written by a Canadian doctor, John McCrae, while serving with the army in 1915.
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 dead. Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, but 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 blow
In Flanders Fields.
This day, that we now call Veteran's Day, was originally Armistice Day, commemorating the end of The Great War, at the 11th hour, on the 11th day, of the 11th month. It was a time not just of celebration, but of honor, and remembrance of the sacrifices made, and a reminder of the debt we owe those who gave their lives that we all might be free.
My Greatgrandfather fought in that war, was wounded, and came home. In reading the sources of the time, we see that a lot of people wanted to stay out of the war - they didn't think it was "our" fight. Thank God, the cause of democracy for all people won over such isolationist views.
My son just returned from his second tour of Iraq. During this tour, seven of his comrades gave their lives in the cause of democracy.
Their sacrifices, and their companions, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice, all putting themselves voluntarily into harm's way to defend our Freedom, deserve our memory on this day. Deserve our respect. Deserve our willingness to understand that freedom is earned and bought at a terrible price. Deserve our profound gratitude that they recognized the unavoidable need, and were willing to offer such a sacrifice.
If we do not support the cause for which they offered their lives: that of "Government of the people, by the people, for the people", we have broken faith, not just with those who sleep in Flanders Fields, but with all those who today stand on the line of democracy in service of their families, their flag, their country.
