Remembrance Day– also known asPoppy Day,Armistice Day(the event it commemorates) orVeterans Day– is a day to commemorate the sacrifices of members of the armed forces and of civilians in times ofwar, specifically since theFirst World War. It is observed on11 Novemberto recall the end of World War I on that date in 1918. (Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 with the German signing ofthe Armistice.) The day was specifically dedicated by KingGeorge V, on 7 November, 1919, to the observance of members of the armed forces who were killed during war; this was possibly done upon the suggestion ofEdward George HoneytoWellesley Tudor Pole, who established two ceremonial periods of remembrance based on events in 1917.


Thepoppy's significance to Remembrance Day is a result of Canadian military physicianJohn McCrae's poemIn Flanders Fields. The poppy emblem was chosen because of the poppies that bloomed across some of the worst battlefields ofFlandersinWorld War I, their red colour an appropriate symbol for the bloodshed oftrench warfare

Especially when you consider that combatants on both sides were in the same situation at this level.

Mitterand and Kohl, Verdun, 1984

Try wearing pants next time.

It seems to me that since we have been remembering, there have been more wars that before.

Remembering is one thing. Learning is a completely different matter.

Its the red colour. That always attracts attention. And so what if you do, exactly. I couldn't care less

So then, could someone please tell me the point?

So true. I try and pay my respects to all those that died in a battle. All of them were the son or daughter of someone and made the ultimate sacrifice. We saw the German cemetries in Flanders as well as those of the Allies.

It was sobering to see the hundreds of thousands dead on the Turkish side in Gallipoli. As Aussies, we sometimes forget how many Turks died in that battle. I personally find the tribute by Ataturk written for those who died on the Allied side (particularly Australians) and are now buried at Gallipoli, particularly poignant:

Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives... You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side now here in this country of ours... you, the mothers, who sent their sons from faraway countries wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land. They have become our sons as well.

I was talking about the wearing of the poppies in the week (s?) in leading up to the 11th November.

Edit: I must add that the generosity and graciousness of the Turkish people in regard to ANZAC day never ceases to amaze me. To rename a part of your country Anzac Cove, after an invader (reciprocated by naming Ataturk Channel in Western Australia).

I'm definitely all for remembering the fallen, and for that reason I would buy and wear a poppy with pride.
However I wonder how many of those on TV are wearing theirs consciously, or simply due to peer pressure? For the last week everyone in TV Land has been wearing a poppy. Now call me cynical but thats not representative of the general population. So are they really wearing it or simply picking up a stage prop from the reception desk at ITV, BBC, Sky etc..?

There are actually less wars.
This is the most peaceful 50 year period in the worlds history.

So cynical Mr Castro, but so true. Somehow, I don't think Stacy from Dagenham on X-Factor insisted on wearing her Poppy as sign of deep and heartfelt rememberance of the fallen...although I could be wrong.

Still, I think it is important for everyone to wear the Poppy on TV, even if worn for dubious reasons, in order for it to be truly a Rememberance Day.

Really? I would never have thought that, but with over population thrown into the equation, more people are fighting and dying.

In the US, the poppies are red - I've never seen a black poppy.

Normally they are worn for Memorial Day (in May), and they look different from the British poppies:



They're crepe paper and are usually sold by the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars). I remember my mom wearing them from the day they went on sale until it fell apart after Memorial day.

But the percentage of people fighting and dying is now far lower. 24-hour news services do rather little to address this fact, rather the opposite.

The idealist in me thinks that maybe, just maybe, some day, some politician will look out into a crowd of people at a Veteran's Day / Remembrance Day ceremony and see a sea of poppies, prompting him / her to think of all of the families that were affected by decisions made by other politicians... and maybe allow that image to weigh heavier when factoring "what to do" the next time such a decision comes up.

Even though I am an American, every time I watch the Queen standing at attention during the silence I feel the gravity of the past. The weight of the responsibility that we have to those who lost their lives on both sides of the trenches, and all over the world, is impossible to ignore. I never make it through the whole silence without tears rolling down my face.

I weep not only for the British boys that died but also for the German boys that died. We should weep for the boys and men, sons and fathers, and now mothers and daughters that continue to die in our name because politicians can't get their heads out of their arses. They make the mistakes and our best and bravest pay the price. It is always the way it goes.

As someone else has already pointed out, we remember. But what do we learn?

Besides, no one, and I mean no one, does Pomp and Circumstance better the Brits.

That we may begin to learn from our mistakes I say,
Good Luck,
Brian.

__________________
Many men, of course, became extremely rich, but this was perfectly natural, and nothing to be ashamed of, because no one was really poor -- at least no one worth speaking of. - Douglas Adams

I'm not even sure that is true. I think the figures for British deaths in Afghanistan is around 130. That is a piddly amount compared to almost any other war.
By and large most countries are currently peaceful.

I found this one very amusing on how to make your own Poppy, I guess its something fun for the younger ones?

http://www.awm.gov.au/education/prog..._makePoppy.pdf

I wasn't sure yours was acurate either.