American Reacts to What is Remembrance Day & Why is the Poppy its Symbol?

[@SoGal_YT]

*Before anyone else in the comments gets upset that the info I looked at on Veterans Day talked about a U.S.-led Allied coalition in WWI - I know that’s not true, so don’t let a random article online get your blood pressure up. It’s the internet, people. I didn’t even notice it said that to be honest. Like and subscribe if you enjoyed this video 👍🏻 Follow me on social media, and join my Discord & Patreon: ❤️ Patreon: www.patreon.com/sogal_yt?fan_landing=true 🐕 Instagram: instagram.com/sogal.yt/ 🏀 Twitter: twitter.com/SoGal_YT ⚽️ Facebook Page: facebook.com/SoGal-104043461744742 🏖 Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/238616921241608 💥 Discord: discord.gg/amWWc6jcC2

[@peterjohnson6692]

You had very little to do with the first world war and it was May 1918 when America came into the wall and within three months the Germans were pretty well finished so America had really Nothing much to do with the first world war that’s why

[@Aw-zc2lt]

You do a great job analysing the videos. You might like The Last Day of WW1 documentary with Michael Palin. If I remember right, it talks about why the war ended at specifically 11am and not sooner, the impact that had on the fighting. Harry Patch might be someone to look at too... The Last Tommy.

[@Aw-zc2lt]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqCWZJiMlr6XhsU last Tommy video

[@coolgareth101]

I actually edited that out of my comment after I saw this. No offence taken, just as none meant. But could you tell me whether cenotaphs are common in small towns through the US as they are in Canada? As I said, these are the focal points for Remembrance Day ceremonies. (This year, I can't go. Invitation only due to pandemic).

[@AndrewD8Red]

Hold up: the US-led Allied nations?! No. Big no. Hell no. Too late, my blood pressure is RILED!!! *angry British noises*

[@rayjennings3637]

My wife and I are English and were out shopping this morning. In the store we were in (Marks and Spencer), a few seconds before 11, an announcement was made, "It is a few seconds before 11 o'clock. At the appointed hour, in all our stores, we will remember our fallen with a two minute silence. We invite our customers to also remember those who made that sacrifice for us all.". The store gradually fell silent and given the number of people who stopped what they were doing, in a very short space of time, the whole store was totally quiet and still. Then, as if by magic, after the two minutes, everyone just carried on doing what they were doing beforehand. As a 73year old ex-serviceman now in his seventies, I was rather moved by the informal solemnity. I'm not sure I should say this but at 08:08 , SoGal, you pull up a reference to 'Veteran's Day in the USA' and in the second line of the text, we see, the usual type of reference about the USA leading the Allies. WRONG. The Armistice was signed by the Allied Supreme Commander, who happened to be French! Marshal Ferdinand Foch. I'm not downplaying the role of the USA and the sacrifice that nation's soldiers made but come on! In numerical terms alone even the UK fielded 50% more combatants than the US, whilst the French almost doubled it! Sorry for the rant but this is what people outside the USA are fed up with. The continual implication that the rest of the world was waiting for the USA to step in and save us all. Admittedly, by coming in 3 years after the war had started, the USA brought a fresh perspective and a fresh pair of legs, so to speak and obvioulsy made a difference to the final outcome but not to the extent that 104 years later someone from over there can write what is shown in that article. Rant over!

[@SoGal_YT]

Don’t get too upset - it’s a random article on the internet, and stuff can be wrong. I know full well the U.S. didn’t lead the Allies. I didn’t even notice it said that until everyone started pointing it out in the comments.

[@TheBananaman491]

@@SoGal_YT i believe he's more upset that most of america will blindly see stuff like that and think america played the biggest part because "its the biggest country so surely it fielded more soldiers" when its not correct but they couldnt be bothered to research anything else about its the same with ww2."america is number one and we save the world" is what seems like we see most of the time posted by american's and the media. your media also likes to exaggerate thing massively for a good example of this check out "russell howard The Difference Between US vs UK Ebola News Coverage" and the follow up "EBOLA FOLLOW UP - The difference between US vs UK reactions" the media coverage is hugely blown up in the us

[@simongarthwaite7695]

@@TheBananaman491 I wouldn't check out Russell Howard for all the tea in China dreadfull man.

[@davidhughes4089]

I'm glad you found the two minute silence heartening, I know we don't always show it in the UK but we have a deep respect for our servicemen and women.

[@Olly1987]

I think it's only a misconception because of the amount of men and service women from the U.S that enlisted for the war effort, Over 4 million! Obviously they didn't all serve in Europe, but it was damn near 2 million troops in some capacity or another that were on european soil. Bless them all.

[@williebauld1007]

Even if you are in a supermarket in the UK, over the tannoy they’ll have the ceremony played and everything stops for the 2 minutes silence in honour of our fallen

[@rosealthea5213]

Same here in Canada. Listened to last post on CBC radio in the parking lot, and got into the supermarket only to have another 2 minutes of silence.

[@Askarissupercars]

It is the same in Australia, everyone just stops.

[@helenwood8482]

Yes. I was working in the bakery at the back of a Co-op on the 11th. Nobody could see me and I was sweeping the floor at the end of my shift. I stopped for the silence and stood holding my broom.

[@jillelliott8175]

Def same in Australia.

[@fasteddie406]

Willie Bauld...hmmm I spies a Jambo.

[@DrumsTheWord]

No one will really get upset with you, Sarah. Your humility and ability to correct your videos on the fly make these extra special for me. Thank you for not doing the easy thing and editing the video. Unless you know, you wouldn't know.

[@allanheslop4493]

i lost my lad in 2004 he never grew old the poem will allways have meaning

[@zzzpip]

RIP young sir.

[@lesleyriseam1282]

Thank you for your Son ,and the Sacrifice he made for us all . RIP Young man , Prayers to you and all family .

[@allanheslop4493]

@@lesleyriseam1282 my son was 33 with 3 small girls they are now in their twenties life goes on

[@robertdraper5782]

I lost two mates in an ambush in 1979, I don't need a special day to remember them because hardly a day goes by when I don't, they never grow old in my memory and I'm sure your sons mates are the same, you don't get over it you just learn to live with it.

[@danturner3455]

He shall never grow old and we will always remember him god bless you Allan your loss will never be in vain! thank you for your and his sacrifice he will always be a hero to me 🇬🇧

[@davetdowell]

"I feel so stupid..." You can stop that. Living is learning, and if you're lucky, you will learn something everyday. Today you matched a day to something of meaning to your people (and to the rest of us). So you grow in knowledge and understanding of the world in which you live, and of how come (along with the rest of us) you are lucky enough to be free.

[@robertwatford7425]

Hear hear; admitting you don't know something is the first step to wisdom. Not knowing and not wanting to discover - that is true stupidity. I'm sure many of us who watch your videos are learning just as much as you are. For example, I had never heard that poem.

[@jillelliott8175]

Brilliantly said, I sincerely hope that she takes note of your first sentence.

[@randyvalgardson774]

I don't blame the average American for not knowing this kind of stuff, it's more the fault of the advertisers and MSM who put the focus on commercializing everything.

[@pollyllwynfedwen8763]

BTW, the US did't lead the coalition in WW1.

[@R4M_Tommy]

Didn't even do that in WW2

[@SoGal_YT]

I know, I was just reading what it said. Didn't even catch that at the time.

[@eagleofceaser6140]

France and the UK were the leaders of the Entente. Italy had a larger army in 1918 than the US had. The US was a junior partner in WWI.

[@nicksykes4575]

I don't see how you can lead something you don't join till it's 75% done.

[@andrewclayton4181]

At the time, the British accepted French domination, as A it was their country we were fighting in, and B their army was so much larger than ours. Though obviously nothing was admitted, no formal agreement was signed, and a prickly independence was also maintained. As in the second war a certain amount of national pride had to be put on the back burner in the interests of cooperation. The same occurred when Pershings American's showed up. The French and British wanted to absorb and use the troops. Pershing said No Way this is an independent force.

[@phildorstrange]

Hey! So here in the UK, we commemorate Remembrance Day at 11am on 11th of November every year, however, the official ceremony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London takes place at 11am on the Sunday nearest to 11th of November each year. This is known as Remembrance Sunday as is attended by veterans as well as serving members of the armed services, along with the UK Prime Minister, other Secretaries of State and ambassadors/High Commissioners from the embassies and High Commissions in the UK. It is a day of great reverence and respect here in the UK. As someone else has said, the BBC will show the commemoration live on Sunday at 11am GMT. Everywhere I have ever worked always observes 2 minutes silence at 11am on November 11th; work just stops for 2 minutes.

[@mikelavoie8410]

11:00 I think one of the more moving acts of remembrance in Canada is the spectators at the ceremony in Ottawa laying their poppies on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, who died at Vimy Ridge. This occurred completely spontaneously on Remembrance Day 2000, just after it had been built. My public school held a ceremony every Nov 11, inviting veterans from our town to attend. As I played trumpet, I usually played the bugle salute known as "Last Post" and then the lament to signal the end of two minutes' silence. I still get a lump in my throat when I hear them played.

[@albrussell7184]

I cannot believe that the first entry about veterans day on Google said 'an armistice between U.S.-led allied nations and Germany...'. I'm not questioning the conduct of US soldiers or their contribution, just that statement about 'U.S.-led'. US troops only arrived in any numbers beginning in early 1918 and initially put into quieter areas until well trained and to gain experience. It was around May-June 1918 when they began to fight in major offensives and September before a true American led offensive took place (before anyone starts commenting on the timeline, I've kept it super-simple as it's way more complex that that)

[@simongarthwaite7695]

They still lost over a hundred thousand men and over 200 thousand wounded

[@alicemilne1444]

@@simongarthwaite7695 That's not the point.

[@simongarthwaite7695]

@@alicemilne1444 it wrong to say they led but wrong to imply they had no significant role they lost double the people say Canada did who are often held up as a major player it was also their involvement in World War one that caused most of the political clas to become isolationist which had devastating consequences later.

[@alicemilne1444]

@@simongarthwaite7695 That is still not the point.

[@simongarthwaite7695]

@@alicemilne1444 go on then what is?

[@MS-19]

You're correct in your assumption that Remembrance Day arose from the First World War but honours the fallen of all wars since then. 11th November is marked by 2 minutes of silence at 11am - here in the UK, I was travelling by train today and an announcement was made at 10.58 inviting all passengers to keep silence in memory of the fallen, which we did, and the conductor thanked us afterwards. The Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance in the Royal Albert Hall happens on the closest Saturday to 11th November - in 2021, that's 13th November - and on the following day, Remembrance Sunday is observed in many churches with special services, at which the Last Post, 2 minutes of silence and Reveille are often included, together with wreath laying at War Memorials. There is a ceremony attended by the Queen and senior politicians at the Cenotaph in London, with silence and wreath laying. As we remember the fallen, we honour those family members they left behind, and we honour the veterans and currently serving personnel of the armed forces. Two poems are often recited: the Exhortation by Laurence Binyon and the Kohima Epitaph. "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." "When you go home, tell them of us and say: for your tomorrow, we gave our today." Thank you for posting this today!

[@fossy4321]

Watch Blackadder goes forth the very end of the series and don't cut it off as some have done as the music and images are really heart wrenching. The end of a comedy series that will have tears of sadness pouring from your eyes.

[@Colonel_Blimp]

Just remember that it’s NOT history.

[@shaggybaggums]

Wibble.

[@twistedsister2568]

That ending made me cry, and not the ending I expected

[@icycoldfrost]

Baldrick's final cunning plan would've worked too...

[@rayjennings3637]

@@Colonel_Blimp Which bit, Chris?

[@edwinmanzano1597]

As a US veteran, I too offer honors, respect and prayers to my fallen Commonwealth brother and sister veterans of all wars (our nations have forged an alliance born of shared conflict over the centuries). In an attempt to clarify; many of our younger generation are not as aware as children of Commonwealth of our own military honors and ceremonies. In America we pay respects to our military on three separate days. Veterans Day: America gathers to pay their respects to those who donned the uniforms and answered the call of the United States of America. Veteran’s Day is commemorated on November 11th at 11:11am recalling the Armistice of WWI. We, the living (surviving) veterans also acknowledge and honor Remembrance Day and our comrades living and passed beyond the bar. Memorial Day: America gathers to commemorate our fallen brothers and sisters of all wars the United States has engaged in. We donned our uniforms, our fallen brothers and sisters will never take off their uniforms. The roots of Memorial Day go back to the American civil war and the dedication of the Gettysburg National Cemetery May 30, 1863. One of the speeches of that day was penned by then president of the U.S. Abraham Lincoln. His speech is known as the Gettysburg address and is often recited as part of commemorations on that day. Armed Forces Day: Is lesser known and honors and pays respects to our currently serving brothers and sisters. There are no “official” ceremonies for this day other to thank our current Armed Forces personnel. To recap: Memorial Day, May 30, honors fallen military service brothers and sisters who will never take off the uniforms of the United States. Veteran’s Day November 11, coincides with Remembrance Day to honor those citizens of the United States who answered the call of their nation and donned the military service uniforms of the United States and returned home to put away the uniform they served under. Armed Forces Day: honors our currently serving military service members and still wearing the uniforms of the United States. I hope this helps and does not confuse. Honors, respect and prayers to all the fallen of the Commonwealth this Remembrance Day 2021; God Save the Queen.

[@galboy7899]

Thanks mate, much appreciated 👍

[@jiminny773]

Excellent SoGal, nobody could doubt your sincerity and good intentions.

[@ramiromaia592]

Remembrance Day is also commemorated in Australia and New Zealand, along with ANZAC day on 25 of April

[@royhardy407]

ANZAC's at Gallipoli were let down grossly. WE should also never forget the 1000's of Irishmen who fought for the Empire as well as the many other Empire nations. God bless them all and may they NEVER be forgotten.

[@laurencefraser]

@@royhardy407 I kind of get the impression that Everyone at Gallipoli was let down pretty badly, really.

[@barrygower6733]

@@royhardy407 The only people who forgot the contribution made to the war effort during WW2 were the Irish governments up until recently when an apology was made for the vindictive treatment returning Irish soldiers, and their families, received at the hands of the regime in Dublin.

[@BillCameronWC]

@@barrygower6733 Indeed - this is why I am Scottish/British, one of my grandfathers was Irish from near Cork and fought in the British Army during WWI, quite severely injured (head/skull wounds) so spent about a year I think in a British Army hospital in Belgium before returning home to Cork. Most of his heavily Republican family disowned him and he couldn't get work, so he moved across to Glasgow (his own wife died during WWI of diphtheria, leaving their son - which the family in Ireland refused to let him see), he married my Scottish grandmother, herself a widow, her husband having been killed in WWI, they had a son too, who my grandfather adopted, and they had their own daughter, my mother. As you say, it wasn't until quite recently that the Irish government agreed to commemorate the dead from what is now Ireland, until then they had more or less been regarded as traitors. It's a complicated & sometimes bitter legacy, which hopefully may slowly recede into history. I understand that I could claim Irish citizenship, but have absolutely no intention of ever doing so, as I consider myself British only, although I have visited a couple of times as a tourist, definitely not to try and look up any remaining relatives there.

[@Zebred2001]

Here in Canada it is as important as our national independence day - Canada Day -1 July. The poppies, ceremonies and of course the time and date are very evocative of the First World War but also commemorate our military involvements since then down to today. It is not a celebration of war or victory over the Axis but a time to reflect on the sacrifices many have made to keep the world as safe as it is. I've been to observances that had participation from representatives of the modern Luftwaffe and the Italian Air Force. These observances are very well attended by the public. You are not really supposed to wear the poppy after 11 o'clock on 11 November but you will see people wearing them for weeks afterward. Also, the Allied war effort in WW1 most certainly wasn't "U.S.-led!"

[@skasteve6528]

I used to live in small town where there is a small remembrance monument dedicated to our Canadian allies who were killed in WW2. I think some Canadians were stationed there prior to D-Day. The local council ensures a Canadian flag is flown there on Armistice day. The US, French & many commonwealth flags are also flown for remembrance Sunday.

[@sigmatus303]

Also keep in mind there were US soldiers were assigned to Australian commander (probably 1st and last time in history) Sir General John Monash

[@paulmccormick3745]

That's why we love Canada here in the UK

[@devonlord99]

@@sigmatus303 that also happened a few times during the New Guinea Campaign up until the point in 1943 when MacArthur separated all Australian and American forces because there were too many American officers who didn’t like our style.

[@wessexdruid5290]

@@devonlord99 Yet in Vietnam, US officers were routinely posted to serve with the Australian forces, to learn how the Australians were so much more successful and effective.

[@Chris_GY1]

Britain and France led the allies in WW1. Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae died of Meningitis in January 1918 and is buried in Wimereux Communal Cemetery near Boulogne, all the graves in this cemetery are laid down due to ground conditions, when I first went to visit his grave his grave had a lot of Canadian flags stuck in the ground. He wrote In Flanders Fields poem at the dressing station close to Essex Farm Cemetery there is a Victoria Cross winner buried here the Victoria Cross is engraved on his gravestone. I have visited the battlefields of The Great War and have visited lots of cemeteries, memorials and museums in the Ieper Salient (where John McCrae wrote his poem, In Flanders Fields is the name of the museum in The Cloth Hall in the centre of Ieper, Ypres or Wipers to British soldiers) and The Somme in France. On 11th November 2016 i was presented with The National Soldiers Battalion Medal in the village of Vichte Belgium by the mayor of Anzegem on my tenth visit to the village. My great great uncle died from wounds in August 1916, i regularly visit his grave at Dernancourt Communal Cemetery in France. We Will Remember Them (appears at the end of Laurence Binyon’s The Exhortation) is used by The Royal British Legion, The Exhortation follows The Last Post at The Last Post Ceremony at The Menin Gate Memorial (54,965 names those with no grave on its panels), i laid wreaths there from November 2010-2018. The Exhortation They Shall not grow old as we that are left grow old age shall not wary them at the going down of the sun and in the morning We Will Remember Them (repeated by people present). Lest We Forget isn’t used much. On Sunday morning i will be laying a poppy wreath in memory of my great great uncle at Grimsby Cenotaph.

[@janetkizer5956]

Remembrance Day is a huge thing in Canada. When I was a kid in school we were escorted to the nearest cenotaph to take part in the ceremony, and had to keep a solemn face and behave throughout. The cenotaph would have names like Vimy inscribed and the events that took place at Vimy were inscribed into our brains from kindergarten on. We still have to wear poppies and be sure to take part in the minute of silence on the day. It's not the law, but it is a social expectation.

[@franl155]

The poppies are made by disabled ex-Service personnel, so buying a poppy directly supports the British Legion, which organises care for ex-Service people. Most people mark the 11th itself, but ceremonies are held on the Sunday after. The Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall is worth taking a look at. Also, the Tower of London's poppy field - kzbin.info/www/bejne/gX7bd2aCZ6xjY5Y

[@s4foz]

Remembrance Sunday is the nearest Sunday to the 11th, 8-14.

[@franl155]

@@s4foz I stand corrected; Google says the 2nd Sunday in November. I always thought it was the Sunday after - obviously!

[@micheledix2616]

The Australian poppy is now a beautiful enamel badge ( every year it is a different design, like the one SoGal is wearing. ) all the monies raised go to our RSL ( RETURNED SERVICE LEAGUE) for Veterans

[@chrisvowell2890]

The video showing the Tower of London poppy field is quite staggering! SoGal, please see this and give us your thoughts.

[@andrewclayton4181]

Poppies, and the annual remembrance, are organised in Britain by The Royal British Legion. A charity of ex-service men and women dedicated to helping all veterans. The French mark the same day, but they don't have the poppy as an emblem. It wasn't so prominent further south where they were fighting. The blue cornflower is more significant for them.

[@oscarsusan3834]

Learn something everyday. Cornflower I’ll remember that.

[@wessexdruid5290]

Salisbury Plain was used by the British Army for training because it is physically a very similar landscape to Northern France (around the Somme). Every year, the Plain is also covered in poppies - broad red streaks across the landscape that send a shiver down the spine. One of the poppies I wear is a tiny enameled lapel pin - purchased from the French museum at Thiepval. So the French do very much understand the reference - but I agree, the cornflower grows at the sites of the major French-manned areas, further south - like Sedan. I have photos of poppies, growing around the rim of the huge Lochnagar crater, at La Boiselle.

[@Corky341]

I didn't know about the cornflowers and the French. The Germans use a 'forget-me-not' as their floral tribute.

[@bushchat28d]

At 11am on Remembrance Day the whole of the UK goes silent for two minutes. Thanks for doing this video, its uplifting to see someone watcing and learning about our (UK and Commonwealth countries) past. Great job

[@chrisedmundson6673]

In the UK it is no Remembrance Day, the 11th of November is Armistice Day but on the nearest Sunday to the 11th we have Remembrance Sunday where wreaths are laid at the Cenotaph. This practise of having the commemorations on a Sunday started during WW2 so as not to disrupt production in armament factories.

[@1949corek]

In that case why is the 11th of November called Remembrance day, if there is no such thing. There are at least two places in the UK where Remembrance day is commemorated on the 11th November.

[@Gambit771]

@@1949corek I've always called it armistice Day.

[@jnicholas-windsoramyisrael46]

"When you go home tell them of us and say: for your tomorrow we gave our today" John Maxwell Edmonds

[@eamonnclabby7067]

A phrase and sentiment never bettered...in fact a phrase for the ages...

[@jnicholas-windsoramyisrael46]

@@eamonnclabby7067 Amen. I just wish that, the new generation would appreciate all that was given for their freedoms today!

[@theoraclerules5056]

Taken from the ‘Dedicated-Epigraph To The Fallen’ on the Kohima War Memorial commemorating the Joint-Battles of Imphal & Kohima in 1944, at the Commonwealth War Cemetery in Kohima, Nagaland State, India 🇮🇳

[@jnicholas-windsoramyisrael46]

@@theoraclerules5056 There has been some confusion between 'Went the day well' and Edmonds’ other famous epitaph published in the same 1919 edition of inscriptions: When you go home, tell them of us and say, For your tomorrows these gave their today. This epitaph was inspired by an epigram of the Greek poet Simonides of Ceos to the fallen at the Battle of Thermopylae, and was later used (with a misquote) for the memorial for those who fell at the Battle of Kohima. Some resources incorrectly give Went the day well? as being the translation of the Simonides epigram. Edmonds was also responsible for translating into Greek elegiacs A. E. Housman's “Epitaph on an army of mercenaries”, a tribute to the British Expeditionary Force on the third anniversary of the battle of Ypres, which appeared in The Times on 31 October 1917. The Greek version was published in the Classical Review 31 that year

[@theoraclerules5056]

@@jnicholas-windsoramyisrael46 Many thanks 🙏🏼 for your splendid & detailed explanation here! I had previously known that the origin of the translation was ascribed to the works of Simonides, however, I was not aware of the connection to the First World War & specifically the third anniversary in 1917 of First Ypres, which by another coincidence was at the end of October 1917 also then again was almost coinciding with the conclusion, some two weeks later of Third Ypres, when the Canadians finally captured Passchendaele heights & its village in Flanders!

[@roybrewer6583]

You are doing a great job looking at our history, no shame in being wrong, your still learning about a country with thousands of years of history and culture. My mother used to make the military uniforms you like so much, for local amateur dramatics. Happy learning from the UK.

[@jimbaritone6429]

In western Canada, November 11th has always been a day we remember all of those who died in the service of our country and those of other nations. When I was growing up, every town, no matter how small, had a Cenotaph, and the Flanders poppy and the Silence at 11 AM have always been important. Many of my family fought in WWII, some also survived fighting in WWI. They never spent much time speaking of those experiences, but having read their journals and diaries over the years as they have passed away has added much to my knowledge of what they did and felt. It has never been about the "glory of war" - rather the opposite. It is remembering - often with sadness - family and friends who lost their lives. I've learned more as each year passed, so please do not apologize for not "knowing it all." These days, I wear two poppies to the Cenotaph - the first one as is traditional and the second to honour and respect friends who served and in some cases died in Afghanistan. Some probably think this an excess, but each of us have our own thoughts and reasons. You may be interested to know - although it's not connected with Remembrance Day as such - that the Paratroopers Memorial was built in Edmonton, Alberta and dedicated in 2013 or 2014. I attended that, and I was pleased - and not a little awed - to see several members of the "Devil's Brigade," the 1st Special Service Force made up of American and Canadian troops in WWII arrive, some from far away in the United States, and some from various places in Canada. I suppose the youngest of them was in his late '80's, but it was evident that they were still very proud of that service. The troops from 3 PPCLI at CFB Edmonton entertained them, and some probably would have put on a parachute and jumped again if given the opportunity. These men were treated with great deference and tremendous respect, and I think the attitude is similar for those we remember on November 11th. They deserve our respect, and I'm glad that we still remember it.

[@shmupperfromhell]

What i love about your channel is that you not only bring up things that i learned as a kid in a UK school, but you also do way more research than my teachers ever did, and i end up in turn doing even more research...! I can only thank you for that.

[@stuartspencer2161]

Here in Australia (and New Zealand), we also commemorate ANZAC Day on 25 April, which is honour the ANZAC troops first engagement in WWI at Gallipoli, but has extended to include other campaigns the ANZACs served. Dawn Services are conducted in most towns at the local memorial sites, along with a parade in the capital cities. For some people, they make the pilgrimage to ANZAC Cove in Turkey, where a Dawn Service is commemorated. I also just learned his day is also commemorated in several other regionalised areas of nations, from Belgium to the United States. So don't feel stupid, because we always have something new to learn.

[@shooterdownunder]

She’s watched a video on Anzac Day. It’s how she started to do more research on world war 1

[@susanashcroft2674]

Thank you for doing this video. By the way, a purple poppy is worn in honour to remember all the animals that died as victims of war. During the war effort, animals like dogs and pigeons were drafted in to help. Millions of horses were killed or injured in battle during the First World War. The area I live in horses were trained at a depot, were taken to the nearest train station and loaded onto trains which took them to the front line in WW1. There is a War Horse route you can walk which takes you on the exact path those horses went on and sadly for the few that did return, as many were put down on the front line because there were not enough people left to bring them back home. Both man and beast who served...we will remember.

[@johnellis7445]

This very Saturday we have in the UK at the Royal Albert hall the Royal festival of Remembrance. This is the night when poppy leaves fall from the ceiling on to the heads of members of the Armed Forces that are standing to attention below . One poppy leaf that falls represents one life lost in the struggle for freedom , liberty and justice.

[@stephenparker6362]

Hi, that was very brave of you to leave in your mistake about Veterans Day, you could have redone it and we would never have known. Well done.

[@froefroe86]

Here in Belgium, November 11 is Armistice Day. Every year, a ceremony is held at the Menin gate. There is also a military ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

[@ian757]

It was interesting in this video to see someone who didn’t know about Remembrance Day learn about it. As I’m sure you’ve picked up from the comments, it’s taken very seriously here in the UK as well as in all Commonwealth Countries. That poppy pin looks really good on you and I’m sure you’ll wear it with pride every 11th November from now on and you’ll be able to explain about it if anyone asks you when they see it. We wear poppies here for for about a week before Remembrance Sunday and then stop at the end of that day.

[@stevenholt4936]

I paid my respects at the war memorial in our small town here in the north of England at 11 am this morning. I'll also watch the British Legion evening from the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday evening and the ceremony on Sunday morning on the telly box. To remember and commemorate those who gave their lives for my freedom. During the war my dad was an engineer for de Havilland building Mosquitoes and my 98 year old mum (still with us, thankfully) worked for Avro on the magnificent Lancaster bomber.

[@susanashcroft2674]

Thank you for sharing this piece of family history and my respect to your parents.

[@lynnejamieson2063]

My Dad’s cousin piloted a Lancaster Bomber during WWII. Sadly he was shot down during a raid in Jan 1944 at the age of 20. His name was FO David Cobbin and he was in the 550 squadron. I know that this information will be of little value to most but as he was an unmarried only child, it feels only right to make sure that someone says his name and ensures that he isn’t forgotten…especially at this time of year.

[@susanashcroft2674]

@@lynnejamieson2063 I'm glad you remember him because what people need to remember is that a lot of those who went or enlisted were young men and boys, some saying they were older than they were to go and 'do their bit.' Twenty years old is no age and it is important that we remember. I was touched by hearing your dad's cousin's story and through you a story and life which would have been forgotten lives on.

[@lynnejamieson2063]

@@susanashcroft2674 thank you. I think that for many it is too difficult to think of the fact that many (if not most) who served were little more than boys. Only one of my Granda’s saw action during WWII and he was only 19 when he signed up for the TA in the months leading up to the outbreak of war in ‘39 and due to both his role and location at a couple of different points, his whole future was shaped, because he was stationed in Fleet, he met my Grandma for one (this would otherwise never have happened as my Granda was from Ayrshire and my Grandma though from Shropshire had been working and living in Fleet for some time). He was involved in events that many don’t know of and are rarely (if ever) spoken on written of. At Dunkirk, his section were not evacuated but instead were redirected to Le Havre then told to “Dig in and wait for the Germans” fortunately after a couple of weeks they were then sent back to the U.K. as the Germans hadn’t arrived. After this he became a Sergeant in the newly formed Reconnaissance Corp and when the Normandy Landings happened he was not part of the initial wave as the Reconnaissance Regiments were deemed too specialised to risk losing on the beaches. Instead they went across The Channel a couple of weeks later, experienced weather too rough to make it to the dock and had to weigh anchor and wait for the weather to clear. Sadly there was an air raid during that time and acoustic mines were dropped around the ship. When the propeller was started on the first clear morning, it set off the mines ripping the ship (The Derrycunihy) in two. With one half sinking and the other remaining afloat. My Granda was on the half that sunk but luckily one of the hatches in the hold he was sleeping in and he managed to swim out and due to some injuries he was sent home for a short period of recuperation, sadly this completely decimated the 43rd Reconnaissance with there being very few survivors from the hold my Granda was in…but around nine months after my Granda was sent home to recuperate, he became a Father when my Dad and his twin brother were born. Many years later when I first heard about the sinking of The Derrycuhiny (which was the largest single loss of life at sea during The Normandy Landings) my Granda was telling me that our local newspaper had been in touch to ask him to review Saving Private Ryan and give his opinion on how authentic it seemed (which seemed so wrong to me) he then said “I don’t know why the asked me, the ship I was on was blown out of the water before we even got there” I didn’t learn the finer details until after he died a few years later. Sorry, I’m rambling on a bit.

[@susanashcroft2674]

@@lynnejamieson2063 Wow Lynne you certainly have some really good history there and no you are not rambling on. We need to understand about what happened to those who came before us so that we can learn and educate ourselves. I know for some young men and boys they never spoke about what happened but for those who could or were able to it gives us a sense of what they went through and how we must honour them and pay our respects to those who sacrificed their lives so that we can have the lives we have today. So thank you for posting this, all the best.

[@neilcampbell3212]

In Australia we also celebrate ANZAC Day on 25 April every year. Plus look up The Shrine, in Melbourne Australia. It was built with remembrance Day in mind as prior to daylight saving, at 11:00 am on the 11th November, the sun would shine through the glass ceiling onto a stone inside the building.

[@jackchisnall9316]

The poppy only tends to germinate and grow in disturbed ground, you'll often see it growing in farm fields after plowing, in France the poppy is replaced by "LeBleuet" the cornflower. Watch the Remembrance Day parade and laying of the wreaths at the Cenotaph (from the Greek Kenos= empty Taphos=tomb).

[@gerardhoolachan2172]

My wife and I, go to a small service on Rememberance Sunday, at Tower Hill ( Tower of London is 50 yards away), this is where the British merchant seamen who went down with their ships in the 1st&2nd WW have a bronze plaque, with the name of the ship and the crew list, who perished and the date, my wife's father was on the Napier Star when it was sent to the deep by U100, my wife was only 9 months old! It gives my wife great comfort to go to her fathers plaque, she runs her finger over his name and leaves a small wooden cross with his name and the inscription " My father", she proudly wears his medals on her chest, and through floods of tears, says she's very proud of her dad! Even though it breaks her heart 💔

[@Jemini4228]

Watch the finale of the 4th series of Blackadder this weekend. The final shot is considered one of the most poignant moments of British television history.

[@brontewcat]

It was wasn’t it. I wasn’t expecting it. Have you seen the video about how the ending came about. It was saved in the post production. It originally was pretty ineffective, but the actors (or at least Rowan Atkinson) refused to reshoot it. But what they did in editing was brilliant.

[@paulsmith2516]

I wholeheartedly agree with this. For such a magnificently silly series like Blackadder to have this as it's final scene is beautiful and heart breaking and so incredibly poignant. I think it is one of the greatest moments of UK television history.

[@Jemini4228]

*SPOILER* Especially when we see Darling's humanity when he confesses his fear. Up until then he had been the sycophantic lacky of a buffoon that we loved to hate but in that moment he becomes one of the boys, just as scared and dwarfed by the task of fighting a war as the rest of them.

[@eamonnclabby7067]

A timely reminder....Mrs C and I have literally just returned from Westminster Abbey and the Cenotaph, proud to see so many people who have served...thank you for sharing Sogal...peace and love from the wirral....E

[@archercolin6339]

I used to work at an amusement park here in the UK, and even that fell silent for 2 minutes.

[@StuuBodo]

Your vids are amazing! It's so great to see the passion you put into them! I'm an Aussie and I can't thanks you enough.

[@MrDeadhead1952]

The association of the poppy with remembrance day was utilised by the 'British Legion' a cahrity founded following the 1st World War to support injured veterans. Paper poppies where manufactured in factories staffed by disabled veterans and sold as a way to allow people to show their support for veterans. This allow the Legion to raise funds to support veterans. The concert on Remembrance Sunday is also a way for raising funds. Local churches also have special services attended by local Veteran and Military Societies as well as youth groups in the UK.

[@BedsitBob]

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.

[@markwilliamson2864]

Thank you for making this video, it was touching sign of solidarity to see you wearing your poppy.

[@7lillie]

Remembrance Sunday is just the nearest Sunday to the 11th, when the main ceremony takes place where the queen leads the country UK in the commemorative act, laying a poppy wreath with heads of the forces and reps from commonwealth countries also laying wreaths. Then there are veterans parade.

[@roberttavares9154]

Check out a video a “Pittance in Time “. Where in a pharmacy at 10:55 the announcement is made to be ready for 2 minutes of silence at 11 :00 am in memory of our servicemen and women and some clients don’t take Time to stop. This actually happen and the songwriter wrote this song

[@AtheistOrphan]

The Queen has not laid a wreath now for several years. She watches from a balcony.

[@BedsitBob]

My Uncle died, aged 18, in 1940. A few years ago, I was able to visit Coxyde Military Cemetery, and see his grave. It was quite an experience.

[@oscarsusan3834]

When I was a kid Remembrance Day in Australia was on the wane (I suspect the unpopular Vietnam war had a influence ) but in the last 25 years it really has had a resurgence and. is now big deal with the dawn services. The major city memorials are as you’d expect however you really see the now mature avenues of trees ( one per soldier ) along roads leading into little towns or the granite memorials erected for ww1 and the subsequent ww2 sacrifices.A little place of now 500 population with 50 names inscribed sort of makes you think about the past and your future.

[@bepolite6961]

I would suppose that for an Australian ANZAC Day would be more poignant for you. It is the same here in Rural Britian, drive through any village and you will find a memorial with too many names on it. The saddest thing is, that there are groups with as many as five or six, with the same surname and it is obvious they were all from the same village family.

[@babalonkie]

Some say it's wrong to commemorate the dead... i say it's only human to remember them.

[@robertpearson8798]

It has taken on a greater meaning here in Canada, recognizing the service and sacrifice of Canadians in all conflicts. When I was younger it was beginning to fade in importance to many youth who saw it mostly as something that their parents and grandparents found important. I’m glad to say that its importance has seen a significant revival amongst all age groups.

[@BlameThande]

It was good to see a Canadian perspective for a change and remember that Remembrance Day is important across the Commonwealth. To partly address your question at the end, I believe the French use a cornflower instead for their own commemoration.

[@osez111]

yeah, a "bleuet", since the flower is blue, like the french uniform was

[@Gambit771]

I was pleased to see this was a video from a different perspective than a British one.

[@sproutandkidneysoup2296]

My father went though hell in the 2nd world war. I remember as a child in the 60's my uncles saying to him 'you drew the short straw, Geoff'. One of his battalions was wiped out. He was one of the few to survive. He fought at El Alamein, Salerno, Monte Casino, and more. On a family holiday in Italy in 1971 as we passed that monastry in a coach heading south, he said in his usual calm voice 'I was on that hill during the war. We tried to advance, but we were pinned down. We couldn't go anywhere, so we stayed put. We were more worried about bomb creep than the Germans'. I was 14 years old at the time, and it's one of the few times I remember him talking about the war. Whenever Malta was mentioned, he always said 'that bloody rock'. Yes, he had a hard time there as well, as did everyone else there at the time. I asked him once if he wanted to see his old comrades at a reunion, he looked out of the window, and said 'No. You didn't make friends in the units I served in. There was no point. You got on with them, you had to to survive, but you didn't make friends'. He never wore a poppy or go to a remembrance day parade. He didn't want to remember it. He wanted to forget it, but he never could. It was too deep.

[@keithdouglas4581]

Like you my father was in the Eighth army (the desert army)and saw action in all the places you mention,Winston Churchill once said "After the war when a man is asked what he did it will be sufficient to say,"..."I marched and fought with the Desert Army".After the war my Dad used to take me to the Cenotaph in Whitehall to see all the soldiers march past in the Rememberance Day parade. and I embarassed him one year,I must have been about 5 or 6 and having seen all the soldiers and ex soldiers marching past with their medals proudly on display I turned to my Dad and said"Why don't you wear your medals Dad?" Knowing that he had chestful of medals at home.."Sschh "was the reply I don't think he liked being reminded of all horrors he went through just to be presented with a chestful of medals. Every night when he tucked us up in bed me and my brother used to say "Tell us a war story Dad"and he would tell us funny stories, never anything gruesome, like the time they'd been marching through the desert for days on end not seeing a single soul when in the distance came an Arab leading a camel who approached them wanting to know if they wanted to buy his fresh eggs !!....I was lucky my Dad came home unscathed, lots of children weren't so fortunate.

[@bepolite6961]

My late grand father enlisted news years eve 1914. I often wondered how he survived, I looked up his Service Record of line and saw that he was not sent to France until March 1917 and into the hell that was Passchendaele. He was gassed twice and lost the use of a lung, he also suffered very badly from what we would now call PTSD. A life time of nightmares. I wear my poppy to remember him and the hundreds of thousands of young men, his generation, who did not live to grow old and have grand children like he did. I especially wear it for them and at 11am on the 11th of the 11th, it is them that I think of.

[@michaelevans205]

Today is Armistice Day, commemorating the end of WW1. On this day, traditionally, there is a two minute silence across Britain to mark the eleventh hour of the eleventh day if the eleventh month. It has, to an extent, been revived of late having fallen into a little disuse following WW2. Old footage taken pre second world war shows the whole country coming eerily to a halt for the two minutes. Initially, even trains came to a halt but this was really rather impractical and stopped. Remembrance Sunday came about after WW2 and is the official and formal marking of the occasion with wreath laying by members of the Royal Family at the cenotaph in London and parades and church services across the nation and, more broadly I believe, the Commonwealth.

[@ianprince1698]

pictures I've seen of bus drivers stood to attention by their cabs as big ben struck 11.

[@michaelevans205]

@@ianprince1698 Yep. It never actually struck me until someone pointed it out, (a real 'duh' moment,) but many of the train/bus drivers would have fought in the trenches themselves.

[@lesley585]

You are right. You need to watch a lot more videos, especially if they are your only source of information. In the UK there are ceremonies in cities, towns and villages across the countries on the 11th. On Saturday there is the festival of remembrance in the Albert hall (its not a concert) and on Sunday a ceremony at the Cenotaph in London where wreaths are laid by the armed forces etc and the royals also attend. The queen has just said she will be there again this year despite her weakening health. They are both long events but worth watching if only by yourself.

[@albrussell7184]

In the UK Remembrance Sunday (closest Sunday to 11th November) has always been about remembering UK and Commonwealth soldiers, sailors and airmen who died in all wars since WW1; recently civilians who died are also becoming part of it. Remembering veterans has never been part of it; in the UK we never even had anything like a veterans day until 2006. The two minute silence happens at exactly 11am on 11th November.

[@aib0160]

The poppy was just about the only thing that grew in the churned up ground of the battle fields. It wasn't just a thing after the war, they grew throughout and for many facing the everyday horror of war the only thing of beauty they saw. The other thing the poppy represents is the blood of those that were lost and wounded. Wear it with pride!

[@peterbell170]

Here in Australia we celebrate the 11/11,but our main day is Anzac Day (Australia & New Zealand Army corp. ) on 25th April.remembering the landing at Gallipoli in 1915.

[@Rethgaul]

Never feel bad for learning - it only makes you a more educated and more well rounded person after all! :)

[@platomk123]

I love your transparency and honesty when you're not sure or get something wrong. It's so refreshing and you do help us all explore stuff we're not always a 100% about. Great channel x (the UK x term of endearment :)

[@elunedlaine8661]

Regarding Remembrance Day, you might like to take a look at 'The Poppy Story' and 'The Tower Of London Poppies'

[@brontewcat]

I just looked at the Tower of London poppies. Very moving

[@southlondon63]

Well you learn something new every day, l never knew the poppy emblem originated in Canada and from a war poem. Have always found WW1 poems by soldier/poets like Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon and Rupert Brooke ( to name a few ) to be very poignant and very hard hitting.

[@kevincasey5035]

I live in Norway. The Norwegians didn't play in the First but it's understandable as the country was only 9 years old. However, May 8th (VE Day ( Victory in Europe) in UK but not celebrated as such) every year is a "flag" day when everyone is encouraged to raise the Norwegian flag at their house or hut.

[@SnakeP1tPoetry]

In Serbia we have a flower called " Natalie's Ramonda", it represents Serbia’s qualities such as endurance, courage and ability to rise under difficult circumstances and in harsh times. The flower can dry out completely and if you water it it will recover, kinda like Serbian nation recovered from the brink of extinction in WWI. Bearing the name of Queen Natalija Obrenović, this plant with rare curing powers and unusual habitats where it grows, became the main motif for the Armistice Day emblem in World War I.

[@alexanderf362]

7:57 "U.S. -led Allied nations". Interesting. I've never heard it called that before.

[@mikecaine3643]

Yes - I noticed that too - the arrogance of the USA is mind-boggling !

[@peterchapman3740]

yanks they invented the steam engine to

[@micheledix2616]

@@peterchapman3740 😁😁 good quip Peter

[@AndyMacinnes1]

The spread of the poppy as a symbol The poem then inspired an American academic named Moina Michael to adopt the poppy in memory of those who had fallen in the war. She campaigned to get it adopted as an official symbol of Remembrance across the United States and worked with others who were trying to do the same in Canada, Australia, and the UK. Also involved with those efforts was a French woman, Anna Guérin who was in the UK in 1921 where she planned to sell the poppies in London. There she met Earl Haig, our founder, who was persuaded to adopt the poppy as our emblem in the UK. The Royal British Legion, which had been formed in 1921, ordered nine million poppies and sold them on 11 November that year. This was taken from the Royal British Legion website. The Royal British Legion are a Charity that helps disabled ex service men and women, they also organise the Poppy Appeal.

[@chillaxo9863]

In Germany there is also a people's grief day commemorating the fallen of WW1&2

[@bouli3576]

On the other hand, 11-11 is also the official opening of the Carnival period in Germany ...

[@dlanor9312]

Volkstrauertag (people's day of mourning), two Sundays before the first day of Advent (so the Sunday between the 13th and 19th of November).

[@rickybolton4342]

thank you for this, as a kid in the Boys Brigade I used to march to the war memorial in the town where I grew up. After this we had a service in our local church where we intoned Binyon's Age Shall Not Weary Them: I suspect there are several generations of adults 50 or so and above who know this poem by heart. I think some difference in recent years has been the acknowledgement of non British combatants as well as the merchant marine, civilian support services etc etc. This has not always been popular, I don't get it. I note that across the years i have discovered that 11/11/11 is generally followed across the Commonwealth.

[@geoffwheadon2897]

Laid a wreath today, DLI, Chilton and Windlestone, County Durham, will do the same this Sunday

[@eamonnclabby7067]

Well done sir.....

[@geoffwheadon2897]

@@eamonnclabby7067 Thank you, I see it as a duty sir.

[@eamonnclabby7067]

A sacred duty even......DLI...a fine body of men

[@hughfranklin3072]

Watch a video on the Royal British Legion rememberence day at the Royal Albert Hall. You could also watch the ceremony at the cenotaph. The Queen usually attends both, but she is still poorly this year and will only be attending the cenotaph.

[@edwardallen4051]

When you googled veterans day and I saw what was said I was slightly shocked and offended (even as a Brit) by "an armistice between the U.S led Allied Nations and Germany". Marshal of France Ferdinand Foch was the supreme commander of allied forces and the Armistice (largely drafted by Foch) was signed by him and the German representatives. If I'm wrong about this then I'm happy to be corrected. 11 November is a national holiday in France and Belgium and it is a day that they commemorate Armistice Day in much the say way as Remembrance day in the Commonwealth.

[@SoGal_YT]

It’s random info online…I wouldn’t be offended by it. I know the U.S. didn’t lead it.

[@lynnejamieson2063]

@@SoGal_YT I don’t believe that the comments being made about “the U.S led Allied Nations” are aimed at whether or not you see that as a fact but are more being made out of shock at seeing the level of self promotion being used in imparting information to the U.S populace. Sadly, if that is how the World Wars are framed in the education systems of the USA, it makes it so much more understandable why some Americans will talk about how they had to “save us” during both World Wars and why American war films set during either conflict very rarely show soldiers from any other country (except for the Germans obviously). So while not a personal attack on your knowledge, the comments are being made because those of us from the other allied nations are often left feeling as though our countries roles are being made to seem insignificant by these types of statements and yes, it may very well just be some random website but it is at the top of the results for the search you made and will be taken as an indisputable fact by many who read it

[@micheledix2616]

@@lynnejamieson2063 thank you Lynne extremely well written. I too felt offended because this Google misinnformation is so blatantly incorrect and as the old story goes. Tell a lie often enough and people believe it is the truth. ( case in point the last US election and all the lies that so many still believe are true) Hope Google correct the misinformation ASAP. Because if does dismiss and offend a huge part of the world population and their countries

[@ianjackson1674]

Remembrance Day is 11 November, with primary ceremonies being centred around 11:00 am with the two minutes' silence. Many commemorations take place on this day. For a short time, everything stops. On the nearest weekend, there is a major commemoration service, with a religious basis on Saturday evening in the Royal Albert Hall, with an audience of around 5,000. On the Sunday there is a service and a march past at the Cenotaph on Whitehall, London, led by the royal family and major political figures. The parade involves several thousand people.

[@MLWitteman]

I am from Haarlem, the Netherlands. My country was neutral during the First World War, so we don’t have a very strong connection with that particular war, or time period. But we do have similar remembrance events, and we celebrate Veterans Day on the 29th of June. Remembrance of the Dead (Dutch: Dodenherdenking) is held annually on May 4 in the Netherlands. It commemorates all civilians and members of the armed forces of the Kingdom of the Netherlands who have died in wars or peacekeeping missions since the beginning of the Second World War. Traditionally, the main ceremonies are observed in Amsterdam at the National Monument on Dam Square. This ceremony is usually attended by members of the cabinet and the royal family, military leaders, representatives of the resistance movement and other social groups. At 20:00 two minutes of silence is observed throughout the Netherlands. Public transport is stopped as well as all other traffic. Radio and TV only broadcast the ceremonies from 19:00 until 20:30. Since 4 May 1994 flags, having hung at half-staff from 18:00, are then hoisted to the music of the Wilhelmus, the Dutch national anthem. The main commemorations in Amsterdam are broadcast by the public broadcasting company NOS and there are ceremonies in all Dutch cities and other places as well. Especially notable are those at the Waalsdorpervlakte near The Hague where many Dutch resistance fighters were executed during the war, and at the war cemetery Grebbeberg, which are broadcast by the commercial broadcasting companies. In many towns, before or after the two minutes of silence, people gather around a monument, listen to speeches, and lay down flowers to remember the dead. The next day, on May 5, people celebrate the liberation of the nation from the German occupation of 1940 to 1945.

[@mazza4190]

In case you are not familiar. The Purple Poppy is often worn to remember animals that have been victims of war.

[@davidhyams2769]

As mentioned by others, The Royal British Legion is a charity that helps veterans and their families. This year is rather special because it is the centenary of the founding of that organisation in 1921. They adopted the poppy as their emblem.

[@truebritmega]

And on the Saturday before remembrance Sunday, we also have the lord mayor's show with parades through London that I'm sure you'll love watching too! And yes, that means it's on in the morning lol

[@GrimlarLex]

Like any event that has been around for a long time, there are a variety of interpretations of Remembrance Day. Some see it as controversial. There have been a number of people, well known/famous people, celebrities and sports stars etc who have objected to wearing the poppy for different reasons. Some Irish people see it as a symbol of British oppression of Ireland, others are pacifist and see the poppy as a symbol of war, others object to the British Empire and so on. I will not argue with them. Ostensibly the two world wars were fought against tyranny and oppression, it would be wrong now to turn around and try to enforce any view on someone else over this issue, whether the official view or my own. However I would like to offer my own interpretation of Remembrance Day. It is for all the service personnel who died fighting for their country, in any conflict. Without people willing to die to defend others the world would be a much worse place. And I do not limit the remembrance to British or even commonwealth soldiers, but to all of those who fought for what they thought was right, even members of the police force who die in the line of duty. I include soldiers from Germany, Austria, Ireland and so on in my thoughts and from conflicts other than just the first world war. I do not think in terms of political agendas or nation vs nation, at the end of the day the soldiers who died had little say in who fought who or why, what matters is that they fought to defend their loved ones, for what they believed was right. And that is true whether they were British, Irish, French, German, American or whatever nationality. We owe all of them a huge debt that we can never repay. A few moments of contemplation and rememberance seems a small thing to ask for.

[@robj8201]

Two minutes of reflection for ALL those fallen, sacrificing their lives so we can have our FREEDOM.🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@andrewwood8706]

i am from nottingham england and i did my 2 min silence at 11 on the 11th

[@14hook]

When i was a kid my dad was stationed in London Ontario RCAF Station Crumlin.We had a show and tell day at Victoria public school (one the first show and tells i am certain:).I took my dad's medals and would let no one touch them. A little girl brought a small bit of paper that i got to hold. I was an old yellowed beat up bit of a notebook and it was written in pencil as i recall. It was a poem written by her grandfather called in 'Flanders field' Her name was McCrae.

[@IanDarley]

The US actually does do the poppy for veterans day. Look up 'The Poppy Story' here on KZbin, it explains how and by whom the poppies are made and the slightly different style of paper poppies used by the US, New Zealand, Canada Etc.

[@trevorlong3003]

We celebrated Remember day in Australia on Thursday 11 Nov at 1100.

[@camerachica73]

Today is Armistice Day - it commemorates the actual end of the ceasefire of WW1 on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. There were two minute silences today to mark that. On Sunday is Remembrance Sunday which is the nearest Sunday to Armistice Day. On Remembrance Sunday there are church services to remember the fallen of all wars and the laying of crosses (small wooden crosses with poppies on) and poppy wreaths on war memorial statues in every town, village and city in the country. War memorials were erected after the end of WW1 to commemorate the fallen in that particular community and then in WW2 their names were also added.

[@marksadventures3889]

I took part in my local Remembrance Day observance - but was not fit enough to go this year, but watched the ceremony from my window. There is the actual day ceremony and then the national ceremony which is held on the closet weekend to the 11th November. I have three poppies, one is a veteran's pin, one I got bought for me from a buddy I served with who since passed on. I also buy a poppy every year. The national ceremony is where the Queen and government lay wreathes of poppies at the cenotaph - a memorial like the white construction you just saw in the film from Canada - in Whitehall London - the seat of government, the armed forces parade through the streets, passed and present.

[@deadpool3918]

Hello from Russia 🇷🇺

[@eamonnclabby7067]

We have a Monument here on Liverpool, s Pierheadt to the Royal Canadian navy for their vital role in the battle of the Atlantic...maybe we need one for the brave men of the Murmansk convoys...

[@Trent_Uk]

the tradition of wearing poppies as a symbol of remembrance was started in America by a lady named Moina Michael a professor at the University of Georgia who after teaching a class of disabled servicemen started selling silk poppies to help raise funds it was then adopted by the American Legion Auxiliary and the Royal British Legion. I believe some places in America still use it but it never seemed to become the universal symbol it has in other parts of the world

[@eddhardy1054]

Bravo SoGal! 👏

[@andrewdoubtfire4700]

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow, between the crosses, row on row.

[@stephenparker6362]

Hi that was interesting. Remembrance Day was originally called Armistice Day and was first celebrated on 11th November 1919, the first anniversary of the signing of the Armistice. It became Remembrance Day as other conflicts were included in the commemoration. It is observed by many Commonwealth countries and by Belgium and France among others in Europe. In France it is a national holiday. The event at the Royal Albert Hall is the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance which takes place on Saturday, it is televised on BBC. On Sunday, Remembrance Sunday, always the nearest Sunday to the 11th, the Act of Remembrance takes place, wreaths are laid at the cenotaph and a march past takes place following the 2 minutes silence at 11. I will have a look to see if I can find any videos on this.

[@stephenparker6362]

I've found a few videos, I'm not sure how suitable they'll be but I've messaged you on Patreon with details of them.

[@tonym480]

Remembrance or Armistice Day is always the 11th November. It is traditional to have 2 minutes silence at 11am. Remembrance Sunday is the Sunday nearest to Armistice Day, this year it is next Sunday, the 14th. This is the day on which there is a parade down Whitehall to the Cenotaph where dignitaries lay wreaths of poppies in commemoration to the fallen of the UK and Commonwealth. Every town across the country will have its own ceremony, always at 11 am. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_Sunday

[@colinharris7287]

india has the same remembrance day november 11th but then again more than a million indians fought in ww1 as the were part of the commonwealth

[@englishfuguefan]

You are watching a Canadian video... In the UK we do not have a Veteran's day as such. Remembrance Sunday(which is the official day of National Remembrance) was created after the 2nd world war to include all conflicts not just the Great War.

[@brucemckean2848]

At the old City Hall, Toronto

[@Jon1950]

As an aside, the City of London Lord Mayor's Show takes place on the Saturday before Remembrance Sunday. The military bands will be marching from the Guildhall on Saturday morning accompanying the new mayor in his procession. Later they will be taking part in the Remembrance Service at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday night, then on Sunday morning they will be playing at the Cenotaph in Whitehall.

[@parisreid5792]

My brother in Scotland had just sent to me this morning. The reason we wear a poppy; On November 7th, 1920, in strictest secrecy, four unidentified British bodies were exhumed from temporary battlefield cemeteries at Ypres, Arras, the Asine and the Somme. None of the soldiers who did the digging were told why. The bodies were taken by field ambulance to GHQ at St-Pol-Sur-Ter Noise. Once there, the bodies were draped with the union flag. Sentries were posted and Brigadier-General Wyatt and a Colonel Gell selected one body at random. The other three were reburied. A French Honour Guard was selected and stood by the coffin of the chosen soldier overnight. On the morning of the 8th November, a specially designed coffin made of oak from the grounds of Hampton Court arrived and the Unknown Warrior was placed inside. On top was placed a crusaders sword and a shield on which was inscribed: "A British Warrior who fell in the GREAT WAR 1914-1918 for King and Country". On the 9th of November, the Unknown Warrior was taken by horse-drawn carriage through Guards of Honour and the sound of tolling bells and bugle calls to the quayside. There, he was saluted by Marechal Foche and loaded onto HMS Verdun bound for Dover. The coffin stood on the deck covered in wreaths, surrounded by the French Honour Guard. Upon arrival at Dover, the Unknown Warrior was met with a nineteen gun salute - something that was normally only reserved for Field Marshals. A special train had been arranged and he was then conveyed to Victoria Station, London. He remained there overnight, and, on the morning of the 11th of November, he was finally taken to Westminster Abbey. The idea of the unknown warrior was thought of by a Padre called David Railton who had served on the front line during the Great War the union flag he had used as an altar cloth whilst at the front, was the one that had been draped over the coffin. It was his intention that all of the relatives of the 517,773 combatants whose bodies had not been identified could believe that the Unknown Warrior could very well be their lost husband, father, brother or son... THIS is the reason we wear poppies. We do not glorify war. We remember - with humility - the great and the ultimate sacrifices that were made, not just in this war, but in every war and conflict where our service personnel have fought - to ensure the liberty and freedoms that we now take for granted. Every year, on the 11th of November, we remember. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them.

[@coconinoco]

I was at football last Saturday (Brentford v Norwich) and a two-minute silence was observed in advance of Remembrance Day (no match on this weekend). Nearly 17 thousand people there and hardly a murmur to be heard. Very moving it was. Shame about the result though! Anyway, I came here to say to SoGal that if you can get to watch the ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall, that’s probably the most solemn and formal expression of Remembrance held in Britain, and it is mirrored up and down the country at every local war memorial, where for days and weeks afterward there are wreaths of red poppies to mark the losses.

[@aussiejim1616]

In Australia we also commemorate this day.

[@stephenparker6362]

We have talked about the National Act of Remembrance at the cenotaph but we must remember that there are local services held all across the country as well.

[@calsailor96]

So I am Australian and I have always understood that Remembrance Sunday was a UK commemoration. In Australia we commemorate Remembrance Day no matter what day of the week it falls on. I believe New Zealand is the same. I can’t say for other countries.

[@Wandering_Canuck]

It's the same in Canada.

[@calsailor96]

@@Wandering_Canuck You learn something new everyday.

[@druidswillow1052]

Hi SoGal, There's a very moving ceremony at the Menin Gate in the Belgian town of Ypres, This has taken place every night at 8pm since 1928 Normally the Belgian Fire Service play "The Last Post" But they have visiting veteran's bands from all over the Commonwealth & U.S who do it regularly, The only interruption to this was during WW2 where the ceremony was held near where I live at Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey, England which has nearly 250,000 graves. The tragic poignancy of the red poppy is it generally grows where there's been lot's of decomposition. Many of the Commonwealth war grave memorials have increasingly blank spaces, where now modern D.N.A techniques identify soldiers hence their resting places aren't unknown. All the best Jim, Surrey, England Lest We Forget X

[@paulmidsussex3409]

"On the 11 November an Armistice between US led Allied Nations and Germany went into effect"?? The war started in the summer of 1914, American troops did not arrive on the battlefield until October 1917. You need to get a better search engine.

[@Sidistic_Atheist]

oop's... I feel for you.. 11/11 I'm chucking at you.. but throwing no shade.. tee hee !! I respect you for not editing that out..

[@andrewwood8706]

we need to remeber the past so we dont make the same mistakes

[@michaeldonahoo461]

The shall not grow old, as we who 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. Lest we forget.