Colonel John McCrae was a Canadian physician, poet, and soldier, best known for his iconic war poem, “In Flanders Fields.” Born on November 30, 1872, in Guelph, Ontario, he served in the Second Boer War and later in World War I, where he was a medical officer. His experiences on the battlefield deeply influenced his writing. McCrae wrote “In Flanders Fields” in May 1915, inspired by the sight of poppies growing among the graves of fallen soldiers. The poem became a symbol of remembrance and is often recited on Remembrance Day, honoring those who served in the military. He passed away on January 28, 1918, from pneumonia and meningitis.