November 11th is Veterans Day in the United States and other countries around the world.

One hundred years ago, World War I ended. At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, the armistice to end the conflict went into effect. One hundred years ago.

What did we learn? What happened next? What did the world do? What did we do?

More war. World War II. The Korean War. The Vietnam War. Iraq. Afghanistan.

On Veterans Day, we honor all those who served in the Armed Forces.

Many countries do the same on this day or others of their own.

We honor the fallen in service on Memorial Day in May.

Many countries honor their dead on their days.

A favorite poem young and now is:

“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.

A sadness pervades these verses penned in 1915 during the dark days of the first World War. I liked the poem for the flow and rhythm and imagery. I didn’t understand the words then. I understand them less today.

My family has its veterans and we have our fallen. I remember and honor them on Veterans Day in November and on Memorial Day in May. It is enough that I understand they served and died for us. I believe they did this for all of us. In some mysterious way, those veterans offered themselves for others.

This is a great gift, a very great gift, and I thank them for their service and their sacrifice.

May we not break faith and may they, whenever their time, sleep in peace beneath the poppies in Flanders Fields, row on row.

Grandpa Jim