Remembrance Day - Holidays - English Reading

Remembrance Day is a special day to honour soldiers and
including Britain and Canada. It is also celebrated in countries like
France and the United States. It is November 11th, the final day
of World War One. The official moment of recognition is on the
eleventh month, on the eleventh day, at the eleventh hour, at the
eleventh minute.   During this time, a moment of silence is
observed.

Remembrance Day is also called Armistice Day or Veterans Day.
The name Armistice comes from the agreement at the end of the
First World War, November 11, 1918. Veterans Day is another
name, and it is used to honour the men and women that fought
in the wars. This name is used in the United States.

Regardless of the name, the day honours the soldiers of the
wars. In Canada, people remember all soldiers, but pay special
attention to the major conflicts in the country’s history:
•        World War One
•        World War Two
•        The Korean Conflict
•        The War in Afghanistan

Canada at War
In the First World War, Canada fought as a Commonwealth
country to protect Britain. This was the first chance for Canada to
show its independence and military abilities. The most important
battles included the gas attacks of Ypres, the mud of
Passchendaele, and the Canadian success at Vimy Ridge. Around
650, 000 Canadians fought in World War One.

In The Second World War, more than 1,000,000 men and women
fought for Canada. They fought around the world in Europe, Asia,
and Africa.   Canadian soldiers fought the Nazis, the Italians, and
the Japanese, and they helped save Britain and France from
defeat. The Canadian army was especially significant in the
liberation of the Netherlands.

Two other important wars have been the Korean Conflict and,
most recently, the war in Afghanistan. As well, Canadian soldiers
have fought in other United Nations peacekeeping missions.

Remembrance Day Ceremony
The Remembrance Day ceremony follows a traditional pattern,
highlighted by three important sections. First, “The Last Post” is a
military song played at the end of the day when soldiers go to
sleep. Next, the moment of silence is observed.   The moment of
silence is often broken by canon shots. After that, the bugle plays
Reveille, which is the traditional soldier song for the beginning of
the day.   Depending on the location, there are also speeches and
other types of music. The ceremony usually lasts about an hour.
Most cities host a ceremony at the cenotaph or war memorial.

The Poppy
The poppy is a red flower worn on
Remembrance Day. It commonly grew
in many of the European battlefields during
World War One. It was made famous because
of a poem written by Canadian John McCrae. The poem is called
“In Flanders Fields”, and is usually recited during the
Remembrance Day ceremony.    The poppy is sold by war
veterans for a donation. People wear the poppy on their clothes
for two weeks leading up to Remembrance Day. The poppy
should be worn over the heart.