Sunday 11 November 2012

I will remember them






Today it is Remembrance Sunday and I don't know if you know why we celebrate it when we do or if your from outside the UK what it is we celebrate. Remembrance Sunday, is the second Sunday in November this day is traditionally put aside to remember all those who have given their lives for the peace and freedom we enjoy today.Remembrance Day is observed on 11 November to symbolize the end of World War One, hostilities formally ended "at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.


In the United Kingdom,  we have a  two minutes of silence on 11 November itself, the start and end of the silence is marked by the firing of a cannon but we also have the main observance on the second Sunday of November, this is called Remembrance Sunday. Ceremonies are held at local war memorials, usually organized by local branches of the Royal British Legion, an association for ex-servicemen. Typically, poppy wreaths are laid by representatives of the Crown, the armed forces, and local civic leaders, as well as by local organizations including ex-servicemen organizations, cadet forces, the Scouts, Guides, Boys' Brigade, St John Ambulance and the Salvation Army
Members of the Reserve Forces and cadet organizations have marches similar to parades,other organisations participate in the marching such as, volunteers from St John Ambulanceparamedics from the London Ambulance Service, and conflict veterans from World War IIKoreathe Falklands, the Persian GulfKosovoBosniaNorthern IrelandIraq, other past conflicts and the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan. After the main service in London,  there is a parade of veterans, who also lay wreaths at the foot of the Cenotaph as they pass, and a salute is taken by a member of the Royal Family at Horse Guards Parade.The main national commemoration is held at Whitehall, in Central London, for dignitaries, the public, and ceremonial detachments from the armed forces and civilian uniformed services such as the Merchant Navy and Her Majesty's Coastguard. Members of the British Royal Family walk through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office towards the Cenotaph, assembling to the right of the monument to wait for Big Ben to strike 11:00 a.m. Before the marching commences, the members of the Royal Family and public sing the national anthem.


I am very grateful for each and every soldier that fights for my freedom and my country, that enables me to live my life without fear, to be able to dream and to have the right to choose. I am grateful that our service men and women go all over the globe to stand for whats right and to fight for others to be treated fairly and to help other countries to build equality in their own land. 





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