Tasmin's tribute for Remembrance Day
SCHOOLGIRL Tasmin Day played her part in last week s Remembrance Day services in Flanders when she took part in a moving service. Tasmin, aged 11, of Elm Drive, St Albans, who is a pupil at Loreto College, had a day off school after she was invited to joi
SCHOOLGIRL Tasmin Day played her part in last week's Remembrance Day services in Flanders when she took part in a moving service.
Tasmin, aged 11, of Elm Drive, St Albans, who is a pupil at Loreto College, had a day off school after she was invited to join her grandfather in reading the famous war poem In Flanders Fields by Canadian army doctor Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae who is buried at Wimereux, about three miles from Boulogne.
Tasmin's father Brendan Day said her grandparents Peter and Linda Flatt had retired to live in Wimereux.
He added: "For many years a former soldier called John Munn used to read the poem as part of the Remembrance Day ceremonies. But when he died Peter was asked to take over the tradition last and he asked Tasmin to help him. Once Loreto agreed to grant the time off, the whole family travelled over for the day."
Wreaths and crosses were laid at the grave of Lt Col McCrae and the poem was read by Tasmin and her grandfather in English then local children read it in French.
In Flanders Fields was written in May 1915 after McCrae witnessed the death of a close comrade during the second battle of Ypres.
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The poem became one of the best-known and best-loved of the First World War.
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.
