Today is Remembrance Sunday. It is a day we reflect, and remember those souls who have given their lives for the safety of the country. On this day, and on 11th November, which is actually Remembrance Day, people wear poppies with pride, a symbol that has come from way back in the First World War. In Belgium, in Flanders, there was possibly some of the bloodiest fighting, and lives lost. The area was razed to the ground, and the fields left as muddy messes… the only thing that survived, and continued to flower, year after year, were the poppies… these brought colour hope and reassurance to those still fighting.
So we wear these, to remember those who fought and gave their lives in order for us to be here today, living in the free country that we are.
We have a Remembrance march here on Remembrance Sunday, locally, where veterans, both old and young, and the Territorial Army, and Cadets do a Remembrance parade around the town. And on 11th November at “the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” we hold a 2 minute silence to remember these souls. Remembrance Day coincides with Armistice Day, when the hostilities of the Western Front finally ceased in 1918, at 11am on the 11th November.
I always wear a poppy with pride, and I also wear the special poppy, shown in the photo above, the Khanda Poppy, to specifically remember the Sikh soldiers who were drafted in during the World Wars, and who fought with equal pride, for the British Empire.
“Lest we forget.”
But I Smile Anyway... 
Nov 09, 2015 @ 21:21:48
It is an important day indeed, I was in town in one of the shops yesterday when they announced over the tannoy that they would be observing the 2 min silence at 11; I was standing at the till and just about the pay for my goods when the silence started, so I stood still , head bowed as did most of the others. Apart from one woman walking around still doing her shopping. Surely she could have respected the silence as everyone else was doing
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Nov 09, 2015 @ 23:23:18
It annoys me when adults do that! I will be in nursery with 20 3-4 year olds at 11 on the 11th, so silence may be a hard ask, but we all try then too!
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Nov 10, 2015 @ 07:13:39
Good for you Ritu, it won’t be easy for you but at least you are going to try, 🙂
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Nov 10, 2015 @ 08:24:23
We always do… At least the morning children are a little more understanding conpared to my afternoon bunch!!
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Nov 10, 2015 @ 08:33:20
Are the afternoon lot still playing up?!
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Nov 10, 2015 @ 08:35:36
Their is a little improvement Judy, but it will be a long hard slog, I tell you… The difference between the two sessions is huge!
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Nov 10, 2015 @ 17:45:36
How strange, hopefully you will soon have them sorted! 🙂
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Nov 10, 2015 @ 20:45:42
Not strange… But bad parenting with many! We will get there!!
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Nov 10, 2015 @ 20:54:31
Good luck! It will be quite a challenge I am sure, but I am confident you will be able to do it, no problem :;-)
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Nov 10, 2015 @ 21:09:44
We shall see eh! Thanks for the confidence though!
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Nov 11, 2015 @ 07:51:52
I have every confidence in you 🙂
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Nov 11, 2015 @ 08:31:31
😘
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Nov 09, 2015 @ 18:28:32
did you get to the Tower last year to see the poppies? It was unbelievably moving. I lost two great uncles one of whose names was read out as part of a daily ceremony with the last post. Gulp. Not a dry eye. Not sure if you are interested but here is the post I wrote with my brother…
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Nov 09, 2015 @ 20:01:05
Wow! That’s amazing! I didntbget the post link though!
We did go to see the poppies, you’re right, it was a fantastic experience!
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Nov 09, 2015 @ 20:35:38
Ah soz about the link
I’ll see if I can find it again when home!
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Nov 09, 2015 @ 20:48:57
Cool, thank you!
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Nov 10, 2015 @ 01:26:06
http://geofflepard.com/2014/09/28/william-harding-dyson-1896-1917-one-young-mans-story/ Here you go
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Nov 10, 2015 @ 07:57:53
Thank you! I’ve just read it, amazing!
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Nov 11, 2015 @ 02:00:50
Thanks Ritu. Having a personal connection brings it to life. I expect it’s the same the world over, this sense of wonder at what extraordinary things men and women can do when placed in extraordinary situations.
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Nov 11, 2015 @ 08:03:05
Oh precisely. And it’s up to us to pass these sentiments on. I just saw a news clip on the BBC about the fact that 40% of 18-25 year olds don’t even know what Armistice Day is, and 38% of the public not intending to observe the 2 minute silence… Sad…
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Nov 12, 2015 @ 00:09:27
v sad!
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Nov 12, 2015 @ 07:58:17
It truly is!
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Nov 08, 2015 @ 22:31:34
I did not know about that day. It is wonderful to honor the ones who sacrificed their lives for the others or came back destroyed phyically and/or mentally. Never to be forgotten. What a wonderful way to have many people sending their thoughts out at the same time.
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Nov 08, 2015 @ 22:38:22
It is a wonderful atmosphere 😊
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Nov 08, 2015 @ 22:48:10
Your post feels very peaceful, Ritu!
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Nov 08, 2015 @ 22:54:42
I’m glad it came across as that! It is all about peace….
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Nov 08, 2015 @ 23:02:42
It totally did, Ritu! Very calm and peaceful!
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Nov 08, 2015 @ 23:28:21
See, the inner hippy coming out again! ☮
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Nov 09, 2015 @ 00:13:11
Impossible to lock away. It needs its freedom 😀
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Nov 09, 2015 @ 08:10:13
Totally dudette!!!
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Nov 09, 2015 @ 09:16:01
Haha!!! Yeah!!! 😃
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Nov 09, 2015 @ 13:17:29
✌🏼
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Nov 08, 2015 @ 19:38:04
I have worn my poppy with pride today
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Nov 08, 2015 @ 19:47:12
Wonderful! And so you should!
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Nov 08, 2015 @ 18:35:36
Great post and words, Ritu! We honor and remember the veterans here on the 11th. There service and sacrifice should never go unremembered.
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Nov 08, 2015 @ 18:57:22
Absolutely Syl! Thank you 😊
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Nov 08, 2015 @ 19:23:10
You’re welcome! ☺
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Nov 08, 2015 @ 17:16:34
We will remember them
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Nov 08, 2015 @ 18:11:20
🙂
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Nov 08, 2015 @ 15:21:01
Beautifully written, thank you for sharing such an
important message.
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Nov 08, 2015 @ 18:09:57
Thank you Becky! It is a day of importance for us all… Where would we be without those that have lost their lives in the past, and even now, in all the conflicts…
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Nov 08, 2015 @ 13:14:00
Very nice Ritu!
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Nov 08, 2015 @ 18:09:16
Thaks Lynz!
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Nov 08, 2015 @ 19:35:12
wonderful!
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