昨天是Veterans Day, 在歐洲這個節日又叫Armistice Day, 即一戰停戰日，

或者Remembrance Day. 也許大家見過代表這一天，紀念陣亡將士的symbol: A red poppy flower. 紅罌粟花。這個symbol在歐美被普遍接受，是因為一戰時的加拿大Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae寫的一首詩In Flanders Fields. Flanders Fields是在比利時的戰場。McCrae自己是個醫生，但是在一戰停戰前不幸在法國病故於肺炎。

 

In Flanders Fields

BY JOHN MCCRAE

 

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.