A statue honouring “In Flanders Fields” poet and Guelph, Ontario native son Lieut.-Col. John McCrae was unveiled today in Ottawa to mark the 100th anniversary of the poem. It was written on May 3, 1915 amid the plethora of poppies and graves that sprouted after the Second Battle of Ypres near Flanders, Belgium.
Lest We Forget.
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.