In Flanders Fields (1915) 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 John McCrae -Canadian

Records tell of specific campaigns and battles and of many individual acts of courage which turned the tide of war. They note the skilful strategies and the brilliant leadership. All these must be remembered. But other aspects of war must also be included in our histories. With every battle over the centuries, extremes of temperature, mud, mutilation, mind-numbing fatigue, fear and death were daily realities. While most of us have not experienced these hardships we can try to understand what the combatants experienced and learn from those who gave their lives and those survivors.

From all of these records of wars, the observations of the individuals who took part stand out as reminders of the true nature of conflict. War has many faces but few of them are pleasant. Through knowledge of the realities, we may work more diligently to prevent them from happening again