I hope you’re having a beautiful day. ♡
Here’s another light-filled ¤ Gem ¤

The photo was taken on Tuesday, November 4 2014 at the Tower of London of the “Bloodswept Lands and Seas of Red” display to commemorate the 100th year since the outbreak of World War I.  It was taken by my friend Jo Milton, one of our first contributing photographers under the name Nothingtosee Movealongnow.  This was used in Gems 1.63 for Remembrance Day. 

I chose the poem In Flanders Field by John McCrae because of what I learned about the poppy symbolism.

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

“It is one of the most quoted poems…written during the First World War by Canadian physician Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae. He was inspired to write it on May 3, 1915, after presiding over the funeral of friend and fellow soldier Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, who died in the Second Battle of Ypres. Its references to the red poppies that grew over the graves of fallen soldiers resulted in the remembrance poppy becoming one of the world’s most recognized memorial symbols for soldiers who have died in conflict. The poem and poppy are prominent Remembrance Day symbols throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, particularly in Canada, where “In Flanders Fields” is one of the nation’s best-known literary works. The poem is also widely known in the United States, where it is associated with Veterans Day and Memorial Day.” (Wikipedia)

How five other countries honor Memorial Day
https://time.com/3892385/memorial-day-2015-world-celebrations/