Sunday, November 18, 2012

Remembrance Day


By guest blogger Penny Underwood.

 
On November 11th. 2012 an Annual Remembrance Service was held at St. Martin in the Field in Dunwoody, Atlanta, Ga. This was started 38. yrs. ago by a Brit, Reggie Mitchell, and Father Martin Dewey Gable.
It started with a prelude, "I vow to the my country", followed by a hymn and Order of Morning Prayer. The First Lesson was read by an Australian Consul; followed by "Jerusalem"; the Second Lesson; Apostles Creed; prayers and Address. After the Offertory hynm the National Anthems of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Great Britain and America were sung. This was followed by a bagpipe lament "Flowers of the Forest"; the Last Post; 2 Minutes Silence; "Reveille" on the trumpet, the poem "In Flanders Field" and "Words Of Remembrance", concluding with a prayer, Benediction and closing hymn.
                                                                  

                                             WORDS OF REMEMBRANCE
                                   They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old,
                                          Age shall not weary them, nor years condem
                                         At the going down of the sun and in the morning
                                                      We will remember them
                                                      We will remember them
 
                      IN FLANDERS FIELD                       
               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, the poppies grow
                             In Flanders fields
                                                         Lt. Col. John McCrae {1872-1918)