“A Response To Those In Flanders Fields”

by Chris Farrell, ©2025

(Sep. 21, 2025) — [Editor’s Note: In 2011, while waiting for care at a VA Hospital, reader Chris Farrell composed the poem below inspired by a framed inscription on the wall of the well-known, “In Flanders Fields” by Canadian soldier and physician John McCrae (1872-1918).

In the wake of the September 10 assassination of Charlie Kirk, Farrell rededicated the poem to the 31-year-old Christian activist whose life is being celebrated today at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ beginning at 11:00 a.m. local time/2:00 p.m. EDT.

As to what prompted him to write the poem 14 years ago, Farrell told The Post & Email on Sunday:

No doubt the pain killers contributed to my deep reflection, or maybe it was the pain, but I began to respond in my head and I scribbled down some notes. Later I worked on it. In fact, some time later I submitted it to World Net Daily as a Letter To The Editor and it was published as that by them.

I did not write it for Charlie. I am dedicating it to him as it is so appropriate. It really captures Charlie’s mission and faith as well as his message. Charlie Kirk laid down his life in the never-ending battle for liberty. He stood in the front lines and took a bullet for freedom as surely as any of our country’s heroes who fell in Flanders Fields.

The Senate has dedicated Oct. 14th, Charlie’s birthday, as a National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk. I wrote President Trump at the White House and my congressman Steve Scalise and asked them to read my poem in an appropriate venue.

A Response To Those In Flanders Fields

Our fathers passed with their last breath
That we might not know freedom’s death
A torch to light the way.

They warned us well to hold it high
And shine it on advancing lie
Lest we should go astray.

That they might rest in peace and sleep
Assured that our faith runs as deep
As theirs did in their day.

Now, to our shame, our nation’s turned away from rows of crosses
Unto the liberal legion’s lies and apparatchik bosses.
We’ve dropped the everlasting flame purchased at such great cost,
Our foe’s advanced and taken ground but all is not yet lost.

If, turning from our wicked ways, we seek his face anew
The Lord will bless this land again and everything we do.
For liberty our fathers died that others might live free.
Take up the torch that shines their light that yours too it may be.