"the greatest land on God"s green earth."

Joyce Kilmer was a British soldier and poet who died in the trenches in WWl. But not before he wrote this poem. I quote from memory so please excuse any gaps.

"In Flander's Field the poppies grow,
Beneath the crosse row on row
That mark our places-
And in the sky, the larks still bravely singing fly.

we are the dead-short days ago
We lived saw sunset's glow
But now we lie in Flander's Field.

To you from failing hands we throw
the torch, be yours to hold it high
If you break faith we us who die,
We shall not rest, though poppies grow
In Flander's Field.

In the small town of Hills, Minnesota where I live, My Mother, Emma, and other legion auxillary members sold poppies on this holiday. No one was around that did'nt sport a poppy.
I was thinking about that last night an longed for days go by, but then this morning I went to Frys market and there was a little old lady selling poppies. I will wear it proudly all weekend and on Monday will attend a memorial serive at the cemetary. There, three years ago, I was priviledged to hear Joe Foss speak. A world war two ace, he had bagged 27 Japanese zeros by mid l943. We got out of high school to see a parade in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Joe's hometown. His family farm was just across the state line from our Minnesota farm home.

We honor all who have served and all who have stolen quietlty away.
Omar kyyamm said it best in his 12th century writtings:

"And those we loved, the loveiest and best
who through the vintage, rolling time has pressed.
Have drunk their cup, a time or two before.
And one by one stole siliently off to rest."