Remembrance Sunday 11 November 2012

Today is Remembrance Sunday. Where the UK and Commonwealth countries remember all those who lost their lives as a result of war. A simple poppy (paper copy) is sold in the weeks leading up to the 11th November all over the UK and Commonwealth. (see image below). Money raised from the sale of these poppies is donated to the Royal British Legion Society.

Text below copied from Wikipedia:
In the United Kingdom, although two minutes of silence are observed on 11 November itself, the main observance is on the second Sunday of November,Remembrance Sunday. Ceremonies are held at local war memorials, usually organized by local branches of the Royal British Legion, an association for ex-servicemen. Typically, poppy wreaths are laid by representatives of the Crown, the armed forces, and local civic leaders, as well as by local organizations including ex-servicemen organizations, cadet forces, the Scouts, Guides, Boys' Brigade, St John Ambulance and the Salvation Army. The start and end of the silence is often also marked by the firing of a cannon. A minute's or two minutes' silence is also frequently incorporated into church services. Further wreath-laying ceremonies are observed at most war memorials across the UK at 11 a.m. on the 11th of November, led by the Royal British Legion. The beginning and end of the two minutes' silence is often marked in large towns and cities by the firing of ceremonial cannon and many employers and businesses invite their staff and customers to observe the two minutes' silence at 11:00 a.m.