Armistice Day

Today marks the 90th anniversary of the end of WWI - the 'Great War', the 'War To End All Wars'. The armistice was signed at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, and we observed a 2 minute silence this morning to honor the fallen soldiers from this war and those that have followed.

Many events took place this past Sunday (Remembrance Sunday), including parades and special church services. Henry Patch, who lives in Somerset and is 110 years old, was at a parade locally on Sunday. The oldest living veteran is Henry Allingham, who is 112! (FYI, this year also marks the 90th anniversary of the Royal Air Force.) Here's an article about Allingham, who is a founding member of the RAF:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/06/06/oldest.veteran/
index.html

In Britain, Armistice Day is proceeded by a 'poppy appeal.' I confess, I was confused by people wearing paper poppies (that look like a first-grader made them in art class) on their lapels. But the matter was quickly cleared up and I learned that the poppies serve as a reminder of the fallen soldiers. Apparently, when people returned to the battle fields where so many men died, they were covered in poppy flowers. This red flower has ever since been associated with the blood shed and the lives lost in WWI. So, each year the veteran association makes these paper poppies for the public to buy and wear as part of their remembrance, and the monies raised go towards care for veterans. I bought one for a pound, and wore it on Saturday. Above is a picture of a large poppy on the front of a building in the center of Bristol. And I don't know if you can tell, but I'm wearing a poppy in the picture below- standing in front of a pub with a great name! :)