November 11 - Armistice Day, Veterans Day, Remembrance Day

by Rob Walker | November 11, 2008 at 04:57 am

2399 views | 43 Recommendations | 20 comments

Across the world, in Britain, the United States, France, Canada and many others, the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month is a time to honour all those who fell in military service.

Today marks the 90th anniversary of the signing of the armistice on November 11, 1918, signalling the end of World War 1, the day has taken on new meaning in most countries and signals a moment of silence for all fallen soldiers.

Known as Armistice Day in Britain and France, Veterans Day in the United States and Remembrance Day in Canada, the names may change but the point remains the same:

Remembrance Day – also known as Poppy Day, Armistice Day (the event it commemorates) or Veterans Day – is a day to commemorate the sacrifices of members of the armed forces and of civilians in times of war, specifically since the First World War. It is observed on 11 November to recall the end of World War I on that date in 1918.

Poppies

Although wikipedia states that in Canada, Remembrance Day is known also as 'poppy day', I've never heard that used to describe today. The name comes from the small red poppies that are sold by veterans and worn by the general public in the weeks leading up to Remembrance day.

The poppies have special significance due to 'In Flanders Field', a heartbreaking poem written by a Canadian soldier during the first world war.

Greatwar.nl has a great deal of information on John McCrae, a Canadian soldier and physician who penned the poem 'In Flanders Fields' in 1915, after witnessing the death of his friend the day before.

"In Flanders Fields" is one of the most famous poems written during the First World War, and has been called "the most popular poem" produced during that period.[1] It is written in the form of a French rondeau. Canadian physician and Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae wrote it on May 3, 1915, after he witnessed the death of his friend, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, the day before. The poem was first published on December 8, that year in Punch magazine.

Paul S. Graham has an interesting take on the poppies and their symbolism, as well as what a poppy actually means today:

The poppy is iconic; in a curious way, it unites us. You will find it on the lapels of peaceniks and militarists and everyone in between.

The poppy is sacred: it reminds us of young lives brutally snuffed.

The poppy is evil: it urges us to “take up our quarrel with the foe.”

The poppy is a major source of income in Afghanistan for corrupt government officials, warlords and insurgents alike.

Social Media

The advent of new technology and ways of communication haven't hindered the respect shown on this day, in fact you can add a poppy to your facebook page here. There's also a similar project to add a poppy here.

While some provinces in Canada recognize the 11th of November as a statutory holiday, others do not. There is a petition on facebook to make it nationwide.

World Reaction

There is a gorgeous photo set over at lightstalkers, of veteran's faces.

A member of parliament from Wales wrote a very solid blog post regarding the Remembrance day ceremonies in Wales, which like Britain has its ceremonies on the Sunday before November 11th:

Remembrance Day in Ruthin, and several hundred are gathered around the cenotaph in Wynnstay Road.

Every year, it seems that the crowds grow larger, even as the number of World War II veterans declines. Welsh soldiers have seen service in Afghanistan and Iraq; many of them come from this area.

A blogger over at blogspot wrote about their feelings on Remembrance day, and reminded people that some countries are still engaged in wars right now:

I sat and watched the service this morning on TV. What struck me today, and I admit it sounds silly, was that we are currently at war. We have troops engaged in Iraq and in Afghanistan. It has almost become a forgotten war. People are blind to the reporting of these conflicts on TV and in the news now which must be horrendously demotivating and indeed insulting to the troops and the families. Looking around our country now you would struggle to notice we are a nation with troops engaged on two fronts.

Another blogger reminds us that we have a duty not only to remember our veterans, but to continue to care for living veterans, not only physically with proper medical care, but emotionally.

But today, there are other important issues for us to consider as we think about how we care for our veterans. First, we must remember that we, as a nation, have committed ourselves to providing care to our veterans through their own healthcare system. It is the only universal healthcare system in the nation providing coverage for all regardless of employment status or other privileges.

A former military member has some interesting thoughts on those that died, both for a cause and in vain:

No, I'm not a naive pacifist. I come from a family with a strong military background, and I too have served in the Army (three years, Signals Platoon, Adelaide University Regiment, if you must know). So I'm speaking with a little bit of knowledge about the military.

And what I am questioning is the "we must remember that they didn't die in vain" argument. Because the fact is, millions did die in vain. Millions did die for no purpose.

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politisite

at 05:31 on November 11th, 2008

Veterans and Family members contributed more then most of us know. Thank you to other veterans and family members.

dunkelberg

at 07:14 on November 11th, 2008

In the U.S., the day is marked as Veterans Day and is supposed to be a tribute to all veterans, with Memorial Day in May marked to honor the war dead, though there is much mixing and mingling between the two days. Memorial Day generally is a holiday for all.

The poppies are reference from In Flanders Field. Ironically, the corn poppy referred to in the poem requires the soil to be disturbed for the seeds to germinate. Shelling almost every square inch of many of the battlefields in World War I was more than sufficient disturbance. Consequently, the first flowers to bloom were acres and acres of red poppies covering the battlefields of France.

The Canadian who wrote the poem was Lt. Col. John McCrae, M.D.

DroolingCrow

at 10:32 on November 11th, 2008

Engineers from University of Toronto remember the 628 University of
Toronto students, staff and alumni who gave their life fighting in
WWI. A memorial field with 628 crosses, each bearing a name of one
of the fallen, has been set up on King's College Circle to honour their contribution.

DroolingCrow has contributed a photo to this story.

ajitartist

at 10:47 on November 11th, 2008

it was a peacefull cold autumn day

ajitartist has contributed a photo to this story.

matthew_reames

at 10:51 on November 11th, 2008

Remembrance Day ceremony outside Canterbury Cathedral in England.

matthew_reames has contributed a photo to this story.

Tony Knox

at 10:58 on November 11th, 2008

this is sunday Remembrance Day Liverpool

Tony Knox has contributed a photo to this story.

Photos By LAW

at 12:12 on November 11th, 2008

The greens around Westminster Abbey in London are covered in memorials for those who have fallen in various wars or conflicts. There were many people out and about perusing the memorials and waiting for the parade to come through Parliament Square.

Photos By LAW has contributed a photo to this story.

cherington

at 12:12 on November 11th, 2008

War Memorial
Bisham Village
Buckinghamshire.

cherington has contributed a photo to this story.

Spike Fisher

at 12:14 on November 11th, 2008

Total sadness despare and frustration,what a waste.

Spike Fisher has contributed a photo to this story.

jarret2323

at 12:15 on November 11th, 2008

This photo is from the Pompano Beach High Veteran's Day Flag Ceremony in Pompano Beach, Florida.

jarret2323 has contributed a photo to this story.

cherington

at 12:22 on November 11th, 2008

It was very moving to see every War Memorial I passed from Gloucestershire to Berkshire on Remembrance Sunday had wreaths of Poppies each with messages of respect and gratitude to those who had lost their lives.

Chris Van den Broeck

at 12:30 on November 11th, 2008

Taken at the cenitaph in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada during Remembrance Day ceremonies on November 11th, 2008. This image encapsulates the general feeling on the day.

We shall remember them.

Chris Van den Broeck has contributed a photo to this story.

Pautl (not verified)

at 12:40 on November 11th, 2008

This post, by Peace Alliance Winnipeg, reminds us to ask "Why?" wars continue to be fought.

Paul Likes Pics

at 13:45 on November 11th, 2008

Year upon year, the number of veterans from the two world wars, grow less and less, yet many more veterans from later conflicts continue to grow. Let us all make it our duty to all the veterans living or dead, and ensure that their sacrifice will never be forgotten.

But also remember somebody once said, "For evil to succeed all that needs to happen is for good men to do nothing."

Paul Likes Pics has contributed a photo to this story.

Tomitheos

at 14:20 on November 11th, 2008

great info and pics!

thanks for posting Rob

darrenjbooth

at 14:27 on November 11th, 2008

i always make an effort to go to the war memorial on remembrance sunday. this was taken shortly after the service in my hometown. many of those who attended the service placed their poppies at the foot of the war memorial as they left. a large version is available here- http://www.flickr.com/photos/10006269@N04/3016434034/ peace.

darrenjbooth has contributed a photo to this story.

Poolie_Girl

at 15:00 on November 11th, 2008

This picture was taken at the war memorial on the Headland in Hartlepool, scene of the bombardment of Hartlepool in 1914.

Poolie_Girl has contributed a photo to this story.

theunderstudy

at 15:33 on November 11th, 2008

Outside of London, Sunderland staged the largest Remembrance Day event and is maintaining and raising the profile of the city's involvement around the world. It was a fitting tribute for the war dead, 'lest we forget'.

theunderstudy has contributed a photo to this story.

BRECHINDUNC

at 05:00 on November 12th, 2008

1100 , 11 nov 2008 Govan war memorial in Govan Road, Glasgow, Scotland. ..exactly 90 years on from when the guns fell silent, Not many people - apart from this dog walker - took much of an interest in the memorial. Possibly not helped by the clock (top right of pic) being a few minutes slow !

BRECHINDUNC has contributed a photo to this story.