Here is a very moving account of my experience serving as the honor guard noncommissioned officer in charge (NCOIC) at NATO and attending the memorial ceremonies in Belgium for six years. It's clear that the sacrifices of the fallen soldiers made a deep impact on Belgium, the city of Waregem and me.

History of the Poppy:
Since World War I, the poppy has been used as a symbol of remembrance for fallen soldiers. This was inspired by the 1915 poem, "In Flanders Fields," by Lt. Col. John McCrae (Nov. 30, 1872 - Jan. 28, 1918). John McCrae was a Canadian soldier and surgeon who served during World War I and the Second Battle of Ypres in Belgium. At age 41, he wrote a friend, "I am really rather afraid, but more afraid to stay at home with my conscience." He treated wounded soldiers from a hastily dug 8-by-8-foot bunker in which McCrae's friend, Lt. Alexis Helmer, was killed.

I had a very strong emotional response visiting the cemeteries and hearing stories about the fallen soldiers for over six years, particularly the encounter with a World War II veteran that had returned to Henri Chapelle American Cemetery for the 50th anniversary in 1993. He told me story after story as we passed the headstones of his fallen buddies. This has increased my respect for all Americans who served in the military immensely.

I was also deeply moved by the heartwarming tradition that brought tears to my eyes every year when the local elementary school children would sing the national anthem at Flanders Field American Cemetery and Memorial every Memorial Day, which symbolizes the future generations honoring the past.

One more tradition that brought tears to my eyes was the “missing man formation.” The first time I witnessed a "missing man formation” was at the Indiana World War Museum during a Memorial Day ceremony in downtown Indianapolis in 1983. I was unaware of the jets flying straight toward the War Memorial down Pennsylvania Street. Suddenly, a group of jets roared low overhead. One jet pulled up spectacularly from the rest, leaving its space in the formation empty to represent a salute to the military’s fallen heroes. The "missing man formation" has always held a special place in my heart, because it feels synonymous with freedom.

The three pictures were taken at Flanders Field. In the top picture is me at Flanders Field. The second picture down is also Flanders Field, with a local dignitary presenting a memorial wreath. The last picture was taken at the end of the ceremony. As we are asked every year by the local people to have our pictures taken, United States Navy four-star Admiral William Dee Smith (a member of the United States Military Representative to NATO) noticed the honor detail posing. He walked over and joined.