Canadian World War I Memorials & Cemeteries

Lt Col John McCrae Grave, 1989

McCrae, a medical doctor, is the author of "In Flanders Fields". He wrote the poem after the first German gas attacks in 1915. He is buried in Wimereux Communual Cemetery along the coastal road near Boulogne, France. He died on January 8th, 1918 a victim of pneumonia.

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.


Tribute Poem

Date: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 22:57:30 -0500

From: Igor Kusyszyn <kusyszyn@yorku.ca>

To: palmer@harrypalmergallery.ab.ca

 

Harry,

You may wish to use the tribute poem, "Thanks to Arthur Lee" with one of your display photographs in the future.

My note to the Royal Canadian Legion is self-explanatory. Thank you. Ihor Kusyshyn.

Douglas,

Some of the branches here in the east like the poem below. I thought you should be aware of it out west. I wrote the poem. I am a professor at York University in Toronto who got caught in WWII in the Ukraine and lost relatives there to both the Nazis and the Communists. The Canadian Government should be ashamed. They should have bought the medals. The medals should never have been offered for public auction. This shows gross disrespect for every Canadian war veteran that ever lived and died.

I hope you like the poem. The Royal Canadian Legion has my permission to circulate it anywhwre in Canada and the world. It is titled,

"Thanks to Arthur Lee".

Thank you. Ihor Kusyshyn.

Thanks to Arthur Lee

Oh Arthur Lee, Arthur Lee
Millions of Canadians
Owe their thanks to thee.
You saved Dr. McCrae's medals
With your generosity.
Plunking down four hundred grand
You saved them for your adopted land.
What a model citizen you are
Having come to us from oh so far.

Where was the Canadian Establishment
On that October morning?
The medals were up for auction,
Everyone had fair warning.
Shame, shame, shame,
The blue bloods' patriotism went lame.
Let us all bend a knee to Mr. Lee,
His gift has preserved the memory
Of Canadians lying in Flanders Fields
Having bravely fought and died so far away
So that we may have the freedom we have today.

 

Ihor Kusyshyn, Thornhill. November 1, 1997

Ph. 905 731-5457 e-mail: <kusyszyn@yorku.ca>

RICK EGLINTON/TORONTO STAR

Arthur Lee, who bought John McCrae's medals, attends unveiling at McCraeHouse in Guelph with wife Esther and children Adrian and Andrea.

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