Today we observe a moment of silence at 11:11am to commemorate the armistice agreement that ended the First World War on Monday, November 11, 1918 at 11a.m. – on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. The first official Armistice Day was held on the grounds of Buckingham Palace, commencing with King George V hosting a “Banquet in Honour of the President of the French Republic” in November 1919.
In Canada (a member of the British Commonwealth) Armistice Day was celebrated from 1921 – 1930 on the first Monday of the week in which November 11th fell. In 1931 the federal parliament amended the Armistice Day Act adopting Remembrance Day as the new name and the holiday would always be observed on November 11th.
Originally “Remembrance Day” honoured armed forces members who had died in the line of duty for Commonwealth countries such as Canada, Australia and the UK. However many non-Commonwealth countries adopted the day to honour their fallen such as France, Germany, Hong Kong, and USA to name a few.
Lest we forget:
We remember who served and continue to serve Canada during times of war, conflict and peace
We remember more than 2,300,000 Canadians who have served throughout our nation’s history
We honour the more than 118,000 who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and our freedom
Poppies were one of the first flowers to bloom on the battlefields in Belgium and France
The poppy was adopted the flower of remembrance in 1921 which marks its 100th anniversary this year
The Royal Legion of Canada estimates 20 million poppies will be distributed in 2021
Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, a famous Canadian army doctor wrote “In Flanders Fields” in 1915 and this poem remains the most memorable war poem ever written
Today at 11:11am, take a moment to remember the men and women that made and continue to make our country safe, while helping others in their time of need. We SALUTE and HONOUR you.
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