I do this every year on this day, and this year is no exception. Today is Remembrance Day, across the Commonwealth. It commemorates the day on which the armistice was signed which ended the First World War in 1918, and is used as a day to remember and to commemorate those who have given their lives in wars across the world, and throughout the ages. In Britain, we hold a nationwide two minutes silence at 11am (the time at which the First World War guns fell silent), as a gesture and as a time to specifically stop and think of how much we owe those who died. We also wear poppies, which serve two purposes: firstly, as a fundraiser for the Royal British Legion, a charity who work to help serving and former members of the armed forces; and secondly, because poppies were what grew in great numbers on the battlefields. I know that in the USA, you have your own Veterans' Day, so I have explained Remembrance Day so that everyone can understand what it means. Please take some time today to think of all of those who have given their lives so that you can live in freedom and safety. And please feel free to leave any messages of remembrance you may wish to share in this thread. In Flanders Fields By John Mcrae (1915) In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: 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 Flanders fields.
I'm wearing a poppy. WW1 is one of the more unappreciated wars. But the saddest thing about it is is: dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.
I just need to ask this: any particular reasone why the eleventh month the eleventh day the eleventh hour? I think an International Armistice day is timely due.
Candy and decorations are professional father moors. Obviously. (Sweet and elegant is to die for one's country, I think)
It was when the First World War officially ended in 1918. I haven't got a poppy, I've been looking to get one but I haven't seen them anywhere although people are wearing them. I'll scout around town again and try and get one. I had a seminar during the two minutes silence and we didn't stop for it which seemed quite odd. The tutor was wearing a poppy though. I've been thinking a lot about it the past few weeks with Remembrance Day and Remembrance Sunday coming up and I think about it a lot anyway because I'm really interested in the world wars.
I'll be wearing a red poppy I got last year. At my local grocery store, there's a little old lady who's been handing out red poppies on Veteran's Day for forty-something years. She's so sweet, and this has always been a special day for me personally. Both of my grandfathers were in WWII, my paternal grandfather was in Vietnam and N. Korea. Although none of my immediate relatives have been in combat, my family has always shared a deep respect for the ones who have given so much. @Lemex: I love that quote. It's so fitting and beautiful, I'll remember that all day.
It's from the Roman poet Horace. Meaning: 'It is a sweet and seemly thing, to die for one's country'.
thank you for that. Armistic is a reminder to all of us that all wars must end. we still have sometime to go but let's all hope that a warless world is what we all strive for.
I thank all of my friends and family and beyond who have served and are currently serving. I've got two friends and a family member deployed right now; I cannot wait to have them home, safe and sound, with us for the holidays.
I implore each and every one of you to go to Ypres to witness the closing of the Menin Gate one evening. It's a monument to those who died in the Belgian mud, and every night there's a ceremony involving the playing of the Last Post and the laying of wreathes to honour the dead. I was 17 when I saw it (on a battlefields trip, on the day when the group visited Sanctuary Wood, where the trenches are kept inctact - I still have some pictures from the trip on my Facebook page, if anyone wants to have a look), and it was one of the most poignant things I've ever seen. It's also quite something to walk through a war graveyard. I've visited British, American and German war graves, and just seeing the sheer number of white stones standing against a green background, in a perfectly maintained English garden (for British graves, at least) serves as a testament for why these men died. Each of the graveyards is a little bit of each soldier's home country. And then there are the engraved names of the dead whose bodies were never recovered. It's a powerful experience and one I'm proud to say I've had. I always think back to those few days in France and Belgium on this day, and exactly why we remember the sacrifices those men made.
Im so thankful for all the soldiers who fought and are still fighting today for our freedom. God Bless our Soldiers!
Thank you for this thread Banzai. In Turkey we have a similar day in April when we come together with the Anzaks to remember the Çanakkale Campaign (Gallipoli). Next year it'll be the 97th anniversary. My grandmother's cousin (born in Perth) and my Turkish husband's great (or great-great? not sure) uncle (born in Thessalonika) are both buried there. Respect for their duty and sacrifice.
Thank you so much to all the veterans that have served to make our countries what they are. Both my grandfathers served in Vietnam, and I had the honor a few years ago to go to Arlington National Cemetery and see the Changing of the Guard. Beautiful and solemn.
I'm watching the BBC's coverage of the Remembrance Sunday ceremonies (for those of different cultures, Remembrance Day is always 11th November, and Remembrance Sunday is the nearest Sunday- it features services of remembrance at churches across the country, as well as parades and wreath laying ceremonies, including a huge one at the London Cenotaph attended by the Queen and royal family). They've cut together the live footage of the band playing at the cenotaph with interviews with the families of soldiers who have died in the last year in Afghanistan. So moving. Lest we forget.
