Lest We Forget

In late spring, 2014,

Terry and I visited 

Paris, France.

It was my first trip

to La Ville-Lumiére.

We saw many wonderful sights,

but I stumbled across one that affected me deeply.

In our visit to 
Notre Dame de Paris,

I rounded a corner 
and unexpectedly saw

a memorial tablet to 

the British Empire dead 

of the First World War.

Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris

It struck me just how much 
the people of France and Britain 

remember and honor 

the war deaths of service members

from the Empire and its Dominions:

The United Kingdom, India, Canada,

Australia, South Africa, 

New Zealand, and Newfoundland.

Reading the words 
Canada and Newfoundland
in that magnificent French cathedral
and knowing it honored 
Canada's dead
and those of Newfoundland 
moved me to tears.

In a moment it made history vividly real.
Among these one million dead 
are members of my family 
I know only from old photographs. 






As we explored Paris and London 
we found many moving memorials 
to the military service dead and injured
of too many wars and conflicts;
and everywhere red, red poppies.

Poppies of Notre Dame Cathedral

The poppy, Papaver rhoeas, 

has become a symbol of remembrance

for soldiers who died in war.

Canadian physician 

Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae

inspired this symbolism 

in a simple, but profound poem 

he wrote during World War I.

To stand in the 

hush and shadow

of this sacred space,

see poppies,

touch stone,

and remember

In Flanders Fields

is to feel powerfully

what sacrifice

death in war is. 

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 . . .

John McCrae

Stained Glass Window

Notre Dame de Paris

Life is precious and fleeting,

and we must never forget 

the men and women

who served and died

to preserve our freedom.

Lest We Forget

Poppies, Papaver rhoeas

Wikimedia

In Flanders Fields
John McRae
Memorial Tablets to the British Empire Dead of World War I