A tribute to the Fallen Heroes

Poppy day: The dawn of another Poppy Day - where the gallant soldiers, who sacrificed their lives for the motherland-Sri Lanka and world over are remembered.

To give a thought, a memorable quote from the Battlefield of Flanders where Poppies grew over the graves of departed soldiers:

In Flanders fields the poppies grow,
Between the graves row by row,
That mark our places in the sky,
The larks still bravely singing high.

We are the dead short days ago,
We lived, fell down, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved and now we lie in Flanders field.

Take up our quarrel with the for,
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 Fanders Field.

By Lt. Colonel John Mc. Crae 1915

History does repeat. Our gallant soldiers too in their blossoming youth, came forward to answer the call of the hour and sacrificed their lives for their motherland. The happenings in the recent past brought a tear to everyone's eye and our only wish is may this tragedy not happen again.

These gallant soldiers will never die but sleep. They will always live in our hearts.

"Weep not for us, our loved ones dear
We are not dead, but sleepeth here"

A mother still feel the one she cradles in her arms and lulled is no more. The one to be born list the sight of the dear father. A bride wishing for the great day, which never came.

A mother wishing to see her beloved son back home, which never happened.

It is the cruel heartless blood thirst of some primitive unscrupulous elements that gave way. The extremists count the minutes and hours to swallow up these beautiful lives. The gallant warriors are not dead, they will never die. The sun will not set on them.

Tempered with the essences of sacrifice, they finally meet their death. Though their remains are interred, their services to humanity will always remain immortal, their families should be proud of these unique personalities. Death will not remove the aurora on them for years and forever.

They have made their motherland proud. They have answered the vow, they made to the country. Their love for the country, which made the undaunted sacrifice. They are like refined gold despite the separation is unbearable. They have answered the call of Angels and bloomed like roses in the garden of Eden. May their journey in Sansara be smooth, until they attain the Bliss of Nirvana.

"In every sunrise and sunset
We shall remember you"

Patricia Mangalika Yahampath