Armistice Day
Today is Armistice Day which is a Memorial Day to honour those who have died in the line of duty.
At 11am this morning, millions of people will pause in a two-minute silence to pay their respects. This non-religious tradition has been in place since 1919. This year the Royal British Legion are asking us to pause, breathe and reflect on the service and sacrifices the Armed Forces make on our behalf.
The Armistice, an agreement to end the fighting of the First World War as a prelude to peace negotiations, began at 11am on 11 November 1918. Armistice is Latin for to stand (still) arms.
The following poem has been shared this year’s reflection:
Pause for the two-minute silence
In real life
We can’t rewind
We can’t fast forward
But we can pause
Breathe
Reflect
Imagine never knowing what to expect,
Or when you’ll next see your relatives again.
Imagine feeling uprooted, uncertain, unstable,
Longing to sit with your loved ones at the dinner table
No promise of a return to normal
Imagine these fears lasting for years
This is life
For those on the frontline
Not just back then. It’s happening today.
Their sacrifices help to keep us all safe
So that’s why we pause. And say…
Thank you.
This November
We’ll stand together
Like we do every year.
A chorus of thunderous silence
Two minutes to remind us
Of those who look fear in the eye
And say
No. I choose hope
A soft song that grows
Listen carefully,
Can you hear it inside your home?
A quiet belief in something better
It brings us together
It lives in the hearts of those who serve
On testing sites
And posts overseas
In every message and picture sent to families
The hope for a better future
Let’s take just two minutes to pause,
And remember.
If you would like to know more, click here Armistice Day | About Remembrance | Royal British Legion
Or support this year’s Poppy Appeal, please click here Donate – The Royal British Legion