Eleventh Hour, Eleventh Day, Eleventh Month
11-11-11, whether British or American.
Armistice Day. Veteran's Day. Remembrance Day.
On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day, on the eleventh month, the Armistice was signed in 1918, "officially" bringing an end to the First World War. Since then, at 1100 hours on November 11th, two-three minutes of silence are held to remember the fallen who died that we might live today, and those currently serving and dying in foreign countries - whether we agree with the wars or not.
The past three Saturdays I've been involved in selling poppies to the general public. The Poppy Appeal is part of a nationwide group that makes and sells poppies to the public, calling them to remember - and never forget.
Across Britain, perfect strangers are united with one bond - a splash of red on their lapels or tops, calling them to remembrance. Tough biker jackets, upper class dainty scarves, a grubby child's little jacket; all share one common feature - the poppy.
There's some coats that don't have that red mark, though. Some people that don't care enough to choose to remember.
It's slightly amusing and sad to watch the reactions of some people on seeing us there with poppies. Heads down, they hurry past, or else deliberately turn away. Some will quickly flash a smile and then guiltily look away, and others stride past, heads forward, pretending not to see us there at all.
You know, if they hadn't given their todays, you wouldn't be here to have the freedom to run past at top speed and pretend that poppies don't exist because you don't agree with the war in Afghanistan - or because you simply don't care enough, since it doesn't affect your self-centred little bubble. Think on that, next time you see someone selling poppies (which, by the way, is a donation and we get anything from £0.02 to £20.00) and you pretend they aren't there. They died for you to have the freedom to forget them.
It's your choice not to.
Join us as, hand and heart, we unite today across Britain and the Commonwealth, on Remembrance Sunday, to commemorate those who, for our tomorrows, gave their todays. Don't be one of those too selfish to recall. Remember them.
"They shall not grow 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."
"Never was so much owed, by so many, to so few." ~Sir Winston Churchill
"Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, "This was their finest hour." ~Sir Winston Churchill
We will remember them!
Armistice Day. Veteran's Day. Remembrance Day.
On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day, on the eleventh month, the Armistice was signed in 1918, "officially" bringing an end to the First World War. Since then, at 1100 hours on November 11th, two-three minutes of silence are held to remember the fallen who died that we might live today, and those currently serving and dying in foreign countries - whether we agree with the wars or not.
The past three Saturdays I've been involved in selling poppies to the general public. The Poppy Appeal is part of a nationwide group that makes and sells poppies to the public, calling them to remember - and never forget.
Across Britain, perfect strangers are united with one bond - a splash of red on their lapels or tops, calling them to remembrance. Tough biker jackets, upper class dainty scarves, a grubby child's little jacket; all share one common feature - the poppy.
There's some coats that don't have that red mark, though. Some people that don't care enough to choose to remember.
It's slightly amusing and sad to watch the reactions of some people on seeing us there with poppies. Heads down, they hurry past, or else deliberately turn away. Some will quickly flash a smile and then guiltily look away, and others stride past, heads forward, pretending not to see us there at all.
You know, if they hadn't given their todays, you wouldn't be here to have the freedom to run past at top speed and pretend that poppies don't exist because you don't agree with the war in Afghanistan - or because you simply don't care enough, since it doesn't affect your self-centred little bubble. Think on that, next time you see someone selling poppies (which, by the way, is a donation and we get anything from £0.02 to £20.00) and you pretend they aren't there. They died for you to have the freedom to forget them.
It's your choice not to.
Join us as, hand and heart, we unite today across Britain and the Commonwealth, on Remembrance Sunday, to commemorate those who, for our tomorrows, gave their todays. Don't be one of those too selfish to recall. Remember them.
"They shall not grow 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."
"Never was so much owed, by so many, to so few." ~Sir Winston Churchill
"Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, "This was their finest hour." ~Sir Winston Churchill
We will remember them!
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts. :)