Post by 1886lebel on Nov 10, 2009 11:32:54 GMT -8
This might be a day early but tomorrow I shall be busy at the memorial service celebrating Veterans Day here in Albuquerque at our Veterans Memorial Park dressed in my WWI French uniform.
Today is Veterans Day honoring American military veterans but it is also celebrated in many other countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom as Armistice, Remembrance or Poppy Day to commemorate the sacrifices of members of the armed forces and of civilians in times of war in which everyone wears the red colored poppy because of the poppies that bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War I and was a symbol for the bloodshed of trench warfare during WWI. In both Belguim and France today is called Armistice Day which is celebrated as the symbolic end of World War I on 11 November 1918 which took place in a railway carriage in Compiègne Forest on 11 November 1918. The Armistice was agreed at 5 AM on 11 November, to come into effect at 11 AM Paris time, for which reason the occasion is sometimes referred to as "the eleventh (hour) of the eleventh (day) of the eleventh (month)".
Today in France remembers those who died or were injured in World War I and other wars and is generally a solemn occasion. Special church services are held to remember those who died in World War I and subsequent wars, military parades to war memorials and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Paris are also organized. Public figures, including France's president, lay wreaths and flowers at these war memorials.
In all cities, towns and villages the people gather to remember the men and women who had died for France in La Grande Guerre by reading the names of these people who were from these places and after thier name is said people will say the words "MORT POR LA FRANCE" (Died for France).
I for one will never forget any of these men and women who fought on both sides of this bloody, horrible war. May they all REST IN PEACE and we never forget who they were.
Patrick
Today is Veterans Day honoring American military veterans but it is also celebrated in many other countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom as Armistice, Remembrance or Poppy Day to commemorate the sacrifices of members of the armed forces and of civilians in times of war in which everyone wears the red colored poppy because of the poppies that bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War I and was a symbol for the bloodshed of trench warfare during WWI. In both Belguim and France today is called Armistice Day which is celebrated as the symbolic end of World War I on 11 November 1918 which took place in a railway carriage in Compiègne Forest on 11 November 1918. The Armistice was agreed at 5 AM on 11 November, to come into effect at 11 AM Paris time, for which reason the occasion is sometimes referred to as "the eleventh (hour) of the eleventh (day) of the eleventh (month)".
Today in France remembers those who died or were injured in World War I and other wars and is generally a solemn occasion. Special church services are held to remember those who died in World War I and subsequent wars, military parades to war memorials and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Paris are also organized. Public figures, including France's president, lay wreaths and flowers at these war memorials.
In all cities, towns and villages the people gather to remember the men and women who had died for France in La Grande Guerre by reading the names of these people who were from these places and after thier name is said people will say the words "MORT POR LA FRANCE" (Died for France).
I for one will never forget any of these men and women who fought on both sides of this bloody, horrible war. May they all REST IN PEACE and we never forget who they were.
Patrick
