Two minutes silence

[Markp.com]

On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918 the guns of Europe fell silent. After four years of the most bitter and devastating fighting, The Great War was finally over. The Armistice was signed at 5am in a railway carriage in the Forest of Compiegne, France on November 11, 1918. Six hours later, at 11am, the war ended.

The first Remembrance Day was conducted in 1919 throughout Britain and the Commonwealth. Originally called Armistice Day, it commemorated the end of hostilities the previous year. It came to symbolise the end of the war and provide an opportunity to remember those who had died.

After the end of the Second World War in 1945 Armistice Day became Remembrance Day to include all those who had fallen in the two World Wars and later conflicts.

In a letter published in the London Evening News on 8 May 1919, an Australian journalist, Edward George Honey, proposed a respectful silence to remember those who had given their lives in the First World War. This was brought to the attention of King George V and on 7 November 1919, the King issued a proclamation which called for a two minute silence:


All locomotion should cease, so that, in perfect stillness, the thoughts of everyone may be concentrated on reverent remembrance of the glorious dead.


The second Sunday of November is Remembrance Sunday. At 11am a two minute silence is observed at war memorials, cenotaphs, religious services and shopping centres throughout the country. The Royal Family, along with leading politicians and religious leaders gather at The Cenotaph in Whitehall, London for a service and all branches of the civilian and military services are represented in ceremonies throughout Britain and the Commonwealth.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/rememb..._history.shtml

Any of the rest of the world do this?

[pup100]

Questioning members of the public on the meaning of the "Poppy" on BBC1 Breakfast Show this morning - Some woman, aged about 34 - "Does it have something to do with the Labour Party?"

God help us all!!!

[theallan]

It used to be that on the 11th (and the days running up to it) you would see around four out of five people wearing a poppy. Your hard pushed to see one in ten now. Its not just for remembering those from the World Wars who gave their lives, its far all wars. And so few people realising this and honouring it is a very sad state of affairs. Indeed I'd argue that the Poppy symbolises peace in general.

Lest we forget.

[loydall]

I've seen quite alot of people wearing poppies today...

You do know why it's a poppy that we use don't you???

[pup100]

I think it's got something to do with the fields of Flanders where one of the great WW1 battles was fought. Didn’t the fields throw up red poppies for years afterwards which some took as a symbol for the blood spilt?

[swampy]

Originally Posted by theallan

It used to be that on the 11th (and the days running up to it) you would see around four out of five people wearing a poppy. Your hard pushed to see one in ten now. Its not just for remembering those from the World Wars who gave their lives, its far all wars. And so few people realising this and honouring it is a very sad state of affairs. Indeed I'd argue that the Poppy symbolises peace in general.

Lest we forget.

technically you're incorrect. The problem with the poppie as a symbol and Armistace day is that the poppie represents the blood that was spilt on Flanders fields. Today there are British 7 survivors of world war 1.

People just can't relate to a war where the majority of the male population volunteered for service (some as young as 14).

It's a bygone age (un)fortunatley.

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.

[Markp.com]

I don't think people have to relate... they should just be thankful and to take two minutes out of your whole year and to buy a poppey isn't that much to ask... is it?

[swampy]

I'm not saying it is, but then I'm not a 14 year old burberry wearing monster with a penchant for twoccing cars and playing medal of honour.

[TallGuyLittleCar]

veterans day here in the u.s. Which in theory we use to owner living veterans, we reserve memorial day to honor the dead.

I'm ashamed to say I didn't know about the poppy thing in england, with the red to honor the dead, the white for the peace movement, and the asian poppy for 19th century british imperialism.