Latest news with #InFlandersFields
Cision Canada
3 days ago
- Politics
- Cision Canada
Message from the Governor General on Canadian Forces Day Français
OTTAWA, ON, June 1, 2025 /CNW/ - As commander-in-chief, I am honoured to pay tribute to the proud members of our Canadian Armed Forces—the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force—who defend our great country every day. On Canadian Forces Day, we honour their unwavering dedication and commitment to peace and security that underscores the strength and independent spirit of our nation. In his famous poem, "In Flanders Fields," John McCrae wrote, "Take up our quarrel with the foe." Every day, time and again, members of our Canadian Armed Forces take up the quarrel, in whatever form it takes: a natural disaster, a pandemic, a breach of peace on a foreign shore, or a crisis right here at home. They are there when we need them, strong and courageous and ready for whatever may come. During this time of uncertainty and insecurity, I am reassured by the steadfast presence of our CAF members as they continue to protect our way of life and defend our sovereignty. For this and so much more, and on behalf of all Canadians, I thank you. Mary Simon
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Message from the Governor General on Canadian Forces Day
OTTAWA, ON, June 1, 2025 /CNW/ - As commander-in-chief, I am honoured to pay tribute to the proud members of our Canadian Armed Forces—the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force—who defend our great country every day. On Canadian Forces Day, we honour their unwavering dedication and commitment to peace and security that underscores the strength and independent spirit of our nation. In his famous poem, "In Flanders Fields," John McCrae wrote, "Take up our quarrel with the foe." Every day, time and again, members of our Canadian Armed Forces take up the quarrel, in whatever form it takes: a natural disaster, a pandemic, a breach of peace on a foreign shore, or a crisis right here at home. They are there when we need them, strong and courageous and ready for whatever may come. During this time of uncertainty and insecurity, I am reassured by the steadfast presence of our CAF members as they continue to protect our way of life and defend our sovereignty. For this and so much more, and on behalf of all Canadians, I thank you. Mary Simon Stay connected:Follow GovernorGeneralCanada on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube. SOURCE Governor General of Canada View original content:
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘Winged Victory' honors vets at air museum
WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. — Under billowing skies and the occasional roar of a plane from Bradley International Airport, hundreds of visitors sat in World War II-era planes and honored local veterans as part of the New England Air Museum's 'Winged Victory' event on Saturday. The event, named for Connecticut's own 43rd Infantry Division 169th Regiment, was staffed with re-enactors of the 169th Regiment who wore military-green uniforms, brandished WWII-era weapons, and set up an outdoor field camp packed with period water tanks and food rations. Some members of the group are descended from soldiers who fought in the unit, including Doug Crawford, 58, whose father, Charles B. Crawford, was a technician in F Company. The 169th regiment fought in multiple campaigns during World War II, including Guadalcanal. Sisters Emma and Amanda Loefflad of Tolland, Connecticut, wore vintage clothing and custom dresses to portray citizens during the war. 'It's a very different world now and people dress so differently,' Emma said. 'You put a lot of effort into wearing this every day.' At noon, the museum held a short memorial to honor all fallen soldiers. 'We gather here not to glorify war but to honor the sacrifice of those who gave their last full measure of devotion in the cause of freedom,' Crawford said in his opening remarks. Crawford has been participating in military reenactments for over twenty years, he said, and his son, Mason, 23, of Tolland, Connecticut, has taken after him as a way to honor his grandfather, Charles, who passed away in 2014. 'It's kind of a way to connect with him now that he's not here and to show people what he went through,' Mason said. 'These were kids going into war.' Affixed to his uniform was a poppy pin, a symbol of remembrance taken from John McCrae's poem, 'In Flanders Fields,' which was recited during the museum's memorial ceremony. The museum also hosted Robert Garabedian, 100, of Tolland, Connecticut, who served in the Army Air Corps during WWII and flew P-40 and P-47 fighter jets. He sat at a table in front of a 1945 Republican P-47 D Thunderbolt and told visitors his story. Garabedian trained in New Mexico and overseas, and had been scheduled to participate in the invasion of Japan as a fighter pilot. Those plans were scrapped after the United States dropped the nuclear bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and effectively ended the war. Garabedian called it 'an honor' to attend the ceremony and pay tribute to fellow soldiers and those who built the planes he flew. But he also considered the futility of war in general. 'War is a terrible way to settle disputes,' he said. Garabedian has 12 children and a total of 71 grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren, and wants them to live in a 'peaceful world.' 'We have to share with others,' Garabedian said. 'We have to give them a chance. We have to listen with respect to what their problems are and, instead of adding to them, try to help solve them.' Lego fans have block party at MassMutual Center in Springfield Mass. man convicted in savage 1990 Springfield rape denied parole again Mass. casino winner: Big jackpot won playing card-based game Not rubbish! These UMass grads have recycling all sorted out with their trash robot Speed bumps petition gains support after child killed by car in Springfield Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
National Poppy Day is Friday before Memorial Day: What it recognizes
Memorial Day — one of the federal holidays set aside to honor veterans, in this case, those who died while serving their country — is often associated with the American flags volunteers and loved ones place at grave sites. To some, another symbol also comes to mind: the poppy. The Poppy is more commonly tied to veteran remembrances in Europe, partly because of the World War I poem, "In Flanders Fields." However, it also has North American roots, and you might see people wearing the roundish, red flower on a lapel — especially on Friday. A Canadian physician serving in the war penned the short poem that inspired the Memorial Day connection to the poppy. An American professor wrote her own poem and promoted the flower as a symbol of remembrance. And the American Legion — a war veterans group based in Indianapolis, Indiana — promotes National Poppy Day, held the Friday before Memorial Day, to raise awareness for the holiday, the last Monday of May, and keep alive the memory of those who served and sacrificed for their country. John McCrae, the author of "In Flanders Fields," wrote the poem after attending the funeral of a fellow soldier who died in battle in Belgium. It was first published in England's Punch magazine in 1915 and in the voice of the those who died during the war. It urges those still living to remember them so the dead can rest in peace. "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,' and goes on to memorize the dead. "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." More: DNR to Memorial Day travelers: Be prepared for a shock Up North "In Flanders Fields" became one of the most quoted poems from the war with, even decades later, school children memorizing it. Flanders Field was a common name for battlefields in Belgium and France. In Europe, unlike America where bodies often are returned, the tradition is to bury the dead near where they fell. The wild-growing poppies, which the poem describes, were not only growing between the graves but had other symbolic meaning. Like the young lives that were lost in war, the flowers don't last long. The poppies are red, for the blood that was smilled. And the poppy has been used since ancient times for its medicinal properties — it is even used to make opium — which perhaps, to those who survive, is a reminder of war's the pain and the need to be healed. After the war, Moina Michael, a University of Georgia professor, promoted the poppy as a flower of remembrance and even became known as the "Poppy Lady" for her efforts, receiving several honors, including a 1948 postage stamp with her likeness on it. She also wrote her own memorial poem, "We Shall Keep the Faith," which alluded to McCrae's but is from the perspective of the living, ending with a promise to the fallen: "Fear not that ye have died for naught; / We'll teach the lesson that ye wrought." Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: National Poppy Day is Friday before Memorial Day: What it recognizes
Miami Herald
23-05-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Stray cats shouldn't be roaming Miami's neighborhoods, putting birds at risk
Too many cats Re: the May 22 Miami Herald front page story, 'Miami-Dade sets thousands of stray cats free. Should feeding them be legal?' Miami-Dade County released almost 18,000 cats back into the streets in the past year. Statistics have shown that cats kill about 2.5 billion birds annually in North America alone. Bird numbers are dropping and this is just one of the reasons. Cats are instinctive hunters. Just because people feed them doesn't mean they won't kill birds. Peacocks and iguanas are everywhere in the county now, but they're not killing other animals. There is absolutely no valid reason for feral cats to be roaming our neighborhoods killing what's left of our wildlife. Glenn Huberman, Miami Avoiding war Memorial Day is dedicated to honoring those in military service who gave their lives serving their country. New York was the first state to recognize the holiday in 1873. After World War l, the holiday was recognized for those who died in any war. The poem, 'In Flanders Fields,' brought forth the idea to wear red poppies on Memorial Day. When Congress passed the National Holiday Act of 1971, Memorial Day (observed) moved to the last Monday in May. Wars are caused by ideologies for control, power and authority. The memory of the military as our protectors and also as family members and the countless civilians who are the victims of war are always in our thoughts. What must be done is to sit, discuss, debate, communicate, negotiate and mediate to avert war and harm. It can be done. Louis Cohen, Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 23, Tamarac Keys Memorial Day Take some time from your busy Memorial Day to honor and remember the sacrifices of our many 'Soldiers Killed In Action' during a ceremony in the auditorium of the Key Largo Murray Nelson Government Center at 11 a.m. on May 26. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. Plans include a performance by our Florida Keys Community Concert Band, flag presentation by the Daughters of the American Revolution, Scout Color Guard, inspirational videos and insightful veteran and civilian guest speakers. Immediately following the ceremony, free hot dogs, burgers, fries and discounted beverages will be provided at the VFW Post 10211's new and remodeled restaurant, 'The Armory Speakeasy,' directly adjacent to the Murray Nelson Government Center on the northbound side of U.S. 1. John Donnelly, Key Largo Upholding the law The Founding Fathers were revolutionaries. They started one, finished one and knew how to avoid another one. One way to avoid one is to not use the military to suppress dissent to enforce domestic law, which is a principal reason the founders rebelled against the British Crown. Police are monitored by courts, but armies aren't. Although the U.S. Constitution does not prohibit a standing army, it does limit funding one for more than two years. After abuses in suppressing dissent were seen during the Civil War, Congress passed the Posse Comitatus Act in 1878, which prohibits using the military to enforce domestic law. An exception to the Act's prohibition is that troops can guard military installations, where vital national defense information is kept. In an apparent attempt to get around the Act, President Trump transferred federal territory along the border with Mexico to the military and began using troops to seize illegal immigrants. Some of the hundreds of criminal trespass cases against those immigrants were thrown out by a federal judge, who concluded that claiming they trespassed on a military installation was a legal fiction and a violation of the Act. While preventing illegal immigration is a laudable goal, so is preventing the army from suppressing dissent, which is why the military is prohibited from domestic law enforcement and why the potential for that should not be permitted. Fortunately, once again, the courts are doing their job by upholding the rule of law and curbing yet another possible step toward dictatorship, however innocently it may be portrayed. R. Thomas Farrar, Miami Youngest voters More than 50 years ago, the 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution granted 18-year-old people the right to vote. It was at the height of the Vietnam War and the thinking was that if young people were old enough to fight — even against their will, as was the case with the draft — they were old enough to vote. Now it's time for a new Constitutional amendment guaranteeing the vote to anyone who has started menstruating. Because if you're old enough to bear children — even against your will, with draconian anti-abortion laws — you're old enough to vote. Katy Sorenson, Miami Jefferson's gaze There are sincere citizens among us who believe that our founding fathers meant for our nation to worship only one higher being: theirs. Instead, the founding fathers built a nation whose government would be truly neutral on the issue of 'best religion.' They enshrined it in our Constitution. President Thomas Jefferson championed freedom of religion his entire life. It is ironic that now his portrait hangs in Donald Trump's Oval Office. Jefferson often pointed to himself as someone whose religious views might differ from others, yet would be good for society. He said, 'Ask not of my religion. That is a matter between my God and me alone. If society finds that my life was just and moral, the religion that governed it cannot have been a bad one.' Today, everything that happens in the Oval Office is under the gaze of Jefferson. Maybe it will make those who populate the office a little more thoughtful. Maybe nervous? Anyway, it makes me feel good. Mac Melvin, Key Biscayne Disheartened No matter how hard they try, Republican lawmakers cannot escape their connection to President Donald Trump's efforts to purge the United States of as many immigrants as possible. While South Florida's Congressional representatives may claim to be 'deeply disappointed,' they cannot afford to step on constituents' toes due to their reliance on the Cuban, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan communities — the last of which were recently dealt a setback by the mostly conservative and Trump-influenced U.S. Supreme Court. These lawmakers will ultimately behave as 'yes' men and women. They are hesitant to speak out, fearing backlash from their leader and the MAGA faithful. As a Latino in Miami, I am truly baffled that the communities now facing persecution and deportation previously supported and voted for Trump and his fellow lawmakers. Those votes enabled the government to unleash ICE on immigrant families, mass deportations separating many loved ones, transfers to prisons in other countries, or returned to the places they fled to escape poverty, imprisonment, torture, or even death. These communities have seemingly turned against their own. The level of hypocrisy is astounding, but the shift to dystopia is fearful. Nestor Cedeno, Miami Medical advice If Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, feels that people shouldn't take medical advice from him, then he should step aside in favor of someone who is qualified and head the national health agency. Ted Burg, Pembroke Pines Rubio's troubles U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's parents and grandparents would be horrified that he's now in favor of eliminating Temporary Protective Status for Venezuelans and not defending Ukraine against democracy's archenemy, Russian President Vladimir Putin. I'm sorry to see him embrace our president and behaving more like a puppet. We were cheated. Shame on those who revoked TPS, a legal and democratic law. Jaime Edelstein, Pinecrest Border policies If former President Joe Biden had kept the border with Mexico legal, we would not have legal challenges today. Joy Pargman, Miami
