As the UK commemorates Remembrance Day, brilliant red poppies have been seen on people’s attire, in stores, in train stations, on automobiles, and more throughout November.
Britain pays tribute to those who have died while serving the nation this month and expresses gratitude to the British and Commonwealth Armed Forces.
The lives of innocent civilians lost in war and terrorist attacks are also remembered, as are the families of the emergency services and the Armed Forces community.
When is Remembrance Day 2024?
As is customary, Remembrance Day, often called Armistice Day, will fall on November 11.
Additionally, a minute’s silence is observed at 11 a.m. on Remembrance Sunday, the second Sunday in November, to commemorate the anniversary.
Remembrance Sunday is on November 10 this year. In honor of “the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women in the two World Wars and later conflicts,” the National Service of Remembrance is held annually on this day at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in London.
How can I watch The National Service of Remembrance?
In addition to members of the Cabinet, leaders of opposition parties, previous prime ministers, the Mayor of London, and other ministers, the royal family pays their respects during the National Service of Remembrance, which is typically broadcast on television and open to the public.
What does the red poppy symbolise?
According to the RBL, wearing red poppies is a sign of “both Remembrance and hope for a peaceful future” and support for the Armed Forces community.
Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, a Canadian physician who was mourning for a buddy who had been killed at Ypres in 1915, was the first to apply the emblem.
His renowned poem In Flanders Field was inspired by the poppies he observed blossoming in the mud-churned, ruined Belgian fields, which he interpreted as a sign of hope.
In 1921, the Royal British Legion adopted the poppy symbol and began selling it as a memento of the occasion. They were composed of cardboard, cotton, or silk.
The RBL’s Poppy Appeal provides money to assist veterans with housing and employment, and red poppies are worn across today in remembrance of the armed forces. Currently, 40 million poppies are distributed annually by about 40,000 volunteers.
Where can I get a poppy?
The RBL is the official seller of poppies for Remembrance Day and you can buy a paper poppy for £2, an enamel poppy for £3, or a clip-on poppy for £3.99.
There are also other items with a poppies motif, such as a wreath that costs £17.99 and a poppies-adorned cloth face mask that is now on sale for £4.99.
You can buy all of the things at the RBL’s Poppy Shop online or in person at the nearest RBL store. Nearer Remembrance Day, you can also find Poppy Appeal vendors in most locations.
