|
|
|
| Sunday,13 November 2005 |
 |
|
 |
Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Month of Remembrance The month of November is regarded as the Month of Remembrance by many countries around the world, especially by those who took part in the First and Second World Wars. As we remember and honour our own war heroes, those brave Sri Lankan soldiers who paid the supreme sacrifice to secure a better future for us, it is timely that we remember how this day originated. Many countries have a special day to remember their war heroes, both dead and still fighting; America has Veterans Day, France has Armistice Day and the British, Remembrance Day. The British Remembrance Day is always held on November 11. This is the day that World War One ended in 1918, when the Armistice Treaty was signed in Northern France, at 5.00am. Six hours later, the fighting stopped, and to commemorate this, a two minutes silence is observed on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. The nearest Sunday to the 11th is called Remembrance Sunday, when church services are held in honour of those involved in wars, and wreaths are laid on war memorials. A two-minutes silence is followed by a bugler playing 'The Last Post', reminding people of times of war when trumpets were as much a part of battle as weapons. The poppy is considered the flower of remembrance and artificial poppies are worn during this period. The poppy was adopted as the symbol of remembrance because it was so widespread on the sites of the battlefields of Europe after the First World War (1914 - 1918). The common field poppy (Papaver rhoeas) grows best in newly-cultivated soil. The soil disturbances caused by trench-digging and shellfire produced ideal conditions for them to grow, and they appeared in vast numbers in these battle fields, especially in the Flanders Fields of Belgium where there was heavy fighting. The red petals of the flower symbolised the blood left by soldiers, and came to be associated with remembrance. American Moira Michael was the first person to wear a poppy in remembrance. She wore one, and sold the others to raise money for ex-servicemen. Her French colleague took up the idea and made artificial poppies for war orphans and the practice caught on. Since the tradition began following World War I, the poppy programme has benefited many war veterans across the world, raising much needed funds to provide welfare services for war heroes and their dependents. The poppies are made by hospitalised soldiers in memory of their fallen comrades. In Sri Lanka, remembrance events are spearheaded by the Sri Lanka Ex-Servicemen's Association with a membership of over 10,000 drawn from the Army, Navy and Air Force. The main ceremony is held at the Cenotaph War Memorial at the Vihara Maha Devi Park, Colombo. They shall not grow old, as we that 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. From the poem 'For the Fallen' by Laurence Binyon (1869 - 1943). |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Politics | Produced by Lake House |
