Today is REMEMBRANCE DAY in CANADA, as well in other
COMMONWEALTH countries where we remember the members of our armed forces who
died in the line of duty since the end of the WORLD WAR 1.
Remembrance Day is observed on November 11 to recall the end
of hostilities of World War I on that date in 1918. Hostilities formally ended
"at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month," in accordance
with the Armistice, signed by representatives of Germany and the Entente
between 5:12 and 5:20 that morning. ("At the 11th hour" refers to the
passing of the 11th hour, or 11:00 a.m.) World War I officially ended with the
signing of the Treaty of Versailles on 28 June 1919.
The day was specifically dedicated by King George V on 7
November 1919 as a day of remembrance for members of the armed forces who were
killed during World War I. This was possibly done upon the suggestion of Edward
George Honey to Wellesley Tudor Pole, who established 2 ceremonial periods of
remembrance based on events in 1917.
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| Flanders Field |
The red remembrance poppy has become a familiar emblem of
Remembrance Day due to the poem "In Flanders Fields", written during
World War 1 by Canadian physician and Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae. These
poppies bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War
I, their brilliant red colour an appropriate symbol for the blood spilled in
the war.
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| John McCrae |
In Flanders Fields
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.
