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Sunday, June 7, 2009

Flowers of the Forest



I’m not really sure why, but this photo I came across deeply touched me. This is a photo of an Allied soldier playing the bagpipes en route to France on D-Day, June 6 1944. Gratitude overcame me as I looked at each of their faces and saw bravery that must have been far superior to my own. It is almost certain that these same pipes, only days later, were heard playing the constant strains of Flowers of the Forest in memorial to many of these brave soldiers who gave their lives to protect our right to freedom in the face of tyranny. May we always remember the price of our freedom.

5 comments:

Dave said...

That's a great pic, do you mind if I play copy cat and post it on my website?

John Miner said...

Sure thing Dave, I don't mind at all.

Granpiper said...

I love the photo. I would venture to say that some of the lads surrounding the piper were the beneficiaries of those pipes playing Flowers of the Forest.

Joanne said...

That's a great image; do you mind if I post it on my bagpipe folklore blog, with a link back to yours? I'm collecting vintage piping images.

Ryan Willey said...

From WW1 but ever relevant, nice post.

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, flyScarce 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.