Today (November 13) is Remembrance Sunday, a day where we gather to commemorate those who have lost their lives in military conflict around the world. A tradition that dates back to 1919, when King George requested that the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month should always be remembered. The date refers to 11am on November 11, 1918, when the hostilities of World War I ended. In the UK, the main observance however takes place on Remembrance Sunday, this year on November 13. Millions of Britons will be wearing poppies as a sign of respect. The flower came to symbolise the death of soldiers in the first World War as they would grow on the battlefields, creating a strong contrast to the death and destruction surrounding them. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War, a two month conflict in the South Atlantic where 255 British soldiers lost their lives. A special commemoration was held in the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday at the Festival of Remembrance, attended by King Charles. At 11am, the country falls silent for two minutes to commemorate the millions of lives lost over the years to war and military conflict. The silence is followed by hymns, poems and quotes to remember the fallen. They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them. 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. If I should die, think only this of me: That there’s some corner of a foreign field That is for ever England. There shall be In that rich earth a richer dust concealed; A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware, Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam; A body of England’s, breathing English air, Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home. And think, this heart, all evil shed away, A pulse in the eternal mind, no less Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given; Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day; And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness, In hearts at peace, under an English heaven. "All we have of freedom, all we use or know - / This our fathers bought for us long and long ago." - Rudyard Kipling, The Old Issue "The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example." - Benjamin Disraeli, speech to the House of Commons, February 1, 1849 "When you go home, tell them of us and say, for their tomorrow we gave our today." - John Maxwell Edmonds
