World War I was supposed to be the war then ended all wars but sadly that was not to be.
European hostilities officially paused at 11 AM on the 11th of November 1918 after the
German government accepted the terms of armistice given them by the allied forces. The following year the cease fire was made permanent with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, but it is the 11th of the 11th that has become the become the symbolic time of peace. Starting in 1919, countries around the world have paused for a minute or two of silence to remember those who have sacrificed themselves for our freedom.
The 11th of November was originally called Armistice Day, but was changed to Remembrance Day after World war II as a gesture to
commemorate those who have died in all manner of war and conflict over the last century.
The Shrine of Remembrance, a memorial to the fallen
in Melbourne, Australia, was even constructed such that sunlight shining
through a particular window would hit the main centrepiece at precisely
11 AM on the 11th of November. Of course that was before Summer Daylight
Savings time was even thought of and so now a special mirror has had to
be installed to keep the tradition.
Silence of the Faithful
In Australia Remembrance Day is a special time of reflection and gratitude. The tradition has alway been to observe a minutes in honour of those who died, a practice which is sadly falling by the wayside as time goes on. It seem this busy world we live in has less time to thank those who protected us as the time between now and then grow greater and greater.
But, as there are few Australian families who have been untouched by the events of World War I, there are still the
faithful who keep the tradition.
Flanders Poppy
