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How do you commemorate 11 November 1918

rocketeer

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,605
Location
England
Just curious how other countries commemorate the Armistice of 1918? Here in England and the British Isles we of course have the Poppy, and the two minute silence on the nearest Sunday and also on the 11th November.
Originally called the Haig fund after General Douglas Haig of WWI. I dont know the full facts but I believe this was to benefit the disabled of WWI, it is now referred to as the Poppy Appeal in remembrance of all veterans of more recent campaigns.
J
 

Gin&Tonics

Practically Family
Messages
899
Location
The outer frontier
In Canada we have Remembrance Day ceremonies on the 11th in all the major cities as well as the capital (small towns probably do it too, I suspect) which includes the two minute silence. I led my office's ceremonial unit in the parade for the ceremony.

I noticed that the British poppies seem to be made of paper, while ours in Canada are moulded out of thin plastic with a fuzzy coating applied.
 

Miss Sis

One Too Many
Messages
1,888
Location
Hampshire, England Via the Antipodes.
It was interesting to see that Prince Charles and Camilla went to an Armistice ceremony on their trip to New Zealand a few days ago, because as a Kiwi, I was never aware of anything happening on the 11 November. We remember our War dead and honour veterans on 25 April, ANZAC Day instead, when we have poppies, the Dawn Parade and two minutes silence. Australians do the same.

It's to do with the Gallipoli campaign of WW1 when it was felt our countries defined themselves as nations rather than just as part of the Empire. In my mind I always quietly remember my country-men on 25 April, although I also do the same on 11 November here in the UK.
 

Doctor Strange

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,248
Location
Hudson Valley, NY
In the USA, it has been called "Veterans Day" since the 1950s, and applies to veterans of all conflicts.

The Great War is seemingly barely remembered and gets very little mention here: WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and the more recent conflicts are far more in the public mind.

(The Civil War is also well remembered in some places - though not here in New York.)
 

filfoster

One Too Many
Locally, it's just a flag display.
When I was young ('50's-'60's) the grown ups called it Armistice Day.
Now, I just lay out a replica of 'Black Jack' Pershing's uniform and a German general's kit, helmet and tunic, on the dining room table and have an adult beverage or six and watch a WWI film like The Trench or The Lost Battalion.
 

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