In Flander's Fields

In the second week of fighting during the Second Battle of Ypres a Canadian artillery officer, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, was killed on May 2nd, 1915 by a German artillery shell. He was a friend of the Canadian military doctor Major John McCrae. John was asked to conduct the burial service owing to the chaplin being called away on duty elseware. It is believed that later that evening John began the draft for his famous poem "In Flanders Fields."

On November 11, 1995 Lt. Col. Graham Parker, was in Ypres, he led the poppy parade to the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing. There was a heavy rainstorm and the crowds lining the route quickly put up many different coloured umbrellas.

The Armistice Day service at the Menin Gate Memorial that year was commemorating the 70th anniversary of the battles of 1915 in the Ypres Salient. Graham's thoughts turned to May, 1915 and a soldier's cemetery close to Ypres. The powerful image of poppies growing among the graves there in portrayed in the poem"In Flanders Fields." These images of poppies on the old Flanders battlefields and the umbrellas on a wet November day in Ypres were Graham's insporation fo the Poppy Umbrella. The Poppy Umbrella helps raise funds for Service charities.

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 high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.

This is a tribute to all the world soldiers that have given their lives, so we may be free. This Memorial Day is also to our brave soldiers that are still in harms way and the brave ones that have been through the battles and made it home. We must also remember the ones that have been wounded and some have a long way to recovery, also the ones that may not recover to live as they once did. God bless every country, lay his hands on the lands and make them whole once more, peace be to all humanity, Amen.