11-11-11 Veteran's Day

This year Great Britain is celebrating the 100th Anniversary of their entering WWI.  It cost their country more than 880,000 lives.  They have commemorated this event with poppies!-one for each life lost during the war.

It would be a breath-taking sight
to see in person!

When I was in the 5th grade in Creswell Elementary School in Shreveport, Louisiana, USA, it was known as Armistice Day-
The day World War I ended in 1918.  

At 11:00am on November 11, we all stood and said the Pledge to Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.  

Yes....that's me ...
the last on the right on the second row...
in the"plaid dress with white collar"!

The words "under God" 
were not added until 1954 
during the Presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower

We now wear buy them
from a Veteran and wear them on
Memorial Day.

We also bought a paper poppy from a Veteran and wore it all day.  Today we call it Veteran's Day and honor Veterans and fallen heroes from all wars but we don't wear a poppy.  Poppies were specific to World War I as described in this poem by Dr. John McCrae, a Canadian Soldier!

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.