Vice Chair Edwin Fountain addresses 2nd Annual “In Flanders Fields” Commemoration

Vice Chair Edwin FountainWASHINGTON, DC – On Sunday, May 1st, the In Flanders Field Fund presented the second of its annual commemoration events marking the anniversary of the famous World War One poem “In Flanders Fields”.

The commemoration honored the poem’s author, Lt. Col. John McCrae, M.D. as well as all those who gave and lost their lives in WWI.

The event was held at the DC War Memorial at noon, starting with a ceremonial remembrance. The Color Guard from the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Hoya Battalion from Georgetown University presented the colors.

After welcoming remarks by Matthew Carnovale, President of the In Flanders Fields Fund, Executive Director Thomas Florczak updated attendees on the Fund's activities over the last year.

The Vice Chair of the U.S. World War 1 Centennial Commission, Edwin Fountain, then delivered remarks providing historical context for the ceremony, and updates on the WWI Centennial Commemoration in the United States.

Following Fountain's remarks, Commander William Brooks, USN,  recited In Flanders Field and also discussed America's reaction to the poem during World War 1.  He spoke about Moina Michael's popularization of the poppy, and read her poem We Shall Keep the Faith.

Closing remarks by Carnovale ended the event.

The In Flanders Field Fund supports the Lt. Col. John McCrae M.D. Fellowship for Veterans in the Arts. The fellowship will support retired servicemen and servicewomen in their pursuit of work in the arts, and the curation of their art in and around Washington D.C. More information is available at the organization's web site, http://www.inflandersfields.org/.