Poppy Day

Remembrance day comes once a year (11 Nov) and it is the same as our Veteran’s day. It is not a public holiday so if it falls on a weekday, it will be celebrated on the next Sunday.

You will see people wearing poppies during this month and there will poppy wreath around war memorials. The British wear poppies in remembrance of those that were killed in WWI, WW2 and other conflicts. The reason why they wear the poppies is because they were the first to flower on the battlefields were the worst fighting had taken place.

There are ceremonies all over the country and they usually take place at the local church and the war memorial in that town.

They have a ceremony and generally read the poem ‘For The Fallen’, here is the most famous stanza:

"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."

They have a 2 minute silence at 11 am which is observed at the war memorials.

I usually spend this day with my Brownies and the local Scouts at the local church in a ceremony with the RAF soldiers that are stationed nearby. I think it is a great way to show our appreciation for those who have given the ultimate sacrifice.

You might also like to attend the services at Madingley American Cemetery.