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Wednesday, 11 November 2020

Remembrance Day - 11 November

 At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.

On the 11the hour of the 11th day of the 11th month 1918 the guns on the Western Front in Europe fell silent after four years of war marking the Armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany at Compiègne, France.

This time became of special significance to Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand, United States, Canada, Belgium, France and the Cayman Islands, when we pause at this time to remember our fallen. Not from this war but from all wars. 

This year may be a little different with Covid restrictions, but we will still pause and remember them. 

The red poppy became a symbol of this day. You can read more about it here. 

Australian War Memorial - traditions

Remembrance Day and the red poppy @ Life Images by Jill

Red poppies - customs and ceremonies

In Flanders Fields

by John McCrae

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.



8 comments:

  1. The poppies on the War Memorial are lovely. Are they sculptured glass or ..,,? I remember memorizing both poems somewhere in my spotty education and understanding both much better as the years went on. Thank you for the reminder .

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    1. I believe these poppies were knit/crocheted by Australians. The group, 5000 Poppies, put a call out for Australians to help knit or crochet over 60,000 poppies to commemorate the end of the First World War. If you do a photo search, you will be amazed at the results.

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    2. Hi Sallie, these poppies on the war memorial are a sort of paper/cloth...

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  2. Quote from CBC Canada: In Flanders Fields marks its 105th anniversary this year. Lt.-Col. John McCrae, serving as a medical officer in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, wrote the poem in the spring of 1915 as the First World War entered its 11th month. McCrae, who was born in Guelph, Ont., crafted the piece in Belgium following the death of a friend and fellow soldier at the second battle of Ypres.

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    Replies
    1. thank you Dana for this additional information

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