Hello readers! Emily here, a final year Law LLB with Forensic Psychology student! Today I am going to talk about something very important to me, Remembrance Sunday. As a member of the University Officer Training Corps – an Army Reserves Unit for Students, the Royal British Legion is an organisation very close to my heart. Today, I’m going to tell you all about what Remembrance Day is, and how you can remember those who died.
What is Remembrance Sunday?
Remembrance Day falls on the Eleventh day of the Eleventh month – November 11th every year. It is celebrated on November Eleventh, as this was the day World War One ended. A two-minute silence is held at eleven in the morning, to mark the time the war ended. This is a designated time to remember the fallen. Nowadays, we use Remembrance Sunday to remember those who have sacrificed their life in all Wars, including World War Two, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
Remembrance Sunday is slightly different. That falls on the nearest Sunday to the 11th, and is the day uniformed organisations will parade through cities, and people will lay wreaths at various cenotaphs, churches, and war memorials across the country.
How you can Celebrate:
The most traditional way to mark Remembrance Sunday is by wearing a Poppy. Poppies are worn as they were the flowers to grew on the battlefields after World War One ended. The Royal British Legion began selling Poppies in 1921 – the following year, a factory was set up where former soldiers were employed to make the poppies. Although there is no right way to wear a poppy, most wear it on the left side of their chest. So long as you are wearing it with Pride, that is all that matters.
There are other ways to mark the occasion – you could donate to the Royal British Legion (linked at the bottom of this blog). You could light a candle and hold a silence at your own convenience on November Eleventh. You could raise awareness of the Royal British Legion by talking to people, and sharing content on your social media! Make sure to watch the Royal British Legion Service of Remembrance held on 13/11/21 at 21:00 on BBC One.
Thank you very much for reading everyone. Remember:
They 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.
Sources:
Remembrance Day: Why do people wear poppies? – CBBC Newsround
Worcester Student Life 