Remembrance

Part of the Wall of Remembrance at The American Cemetery, Madingley, Cambridge

Across the world, many countries have established ceremonies and other ways of honouring the dead of wars and conflicts since the First World War ended in 1918. In the United Kingdom, Remembrance Day (also known as Poppy Day) is celebrated on the second sunday of November. Major hostilities of the First World War were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice. The day was specifically dedicated by King George V.
In the weeks leading up to the commemoration poppies are sold by The Royal British Legion, an association of ex-servicemen, and poppy wreaths are laid at memorials across the country by representatives of the Crown, the Government, the Armed Forces and other local associations. The main national ceremony for the country is held at Whitehall where wreaths are placed on The Cenotaph.

Another important aspect of remembrance is the maintaining of the many war graves and cemeteries both in the United Kingdom and abroad, particularly in Northern France.

Across the country, and in other parts of the world as well, hundreds of war memorials were erected after both the world wars and these become the focus of remembrance ceremonies each year.

Resources

• Monuments and memorials
  Hundreds of monuments, statues and other memorials stand in the towns and cities of Britain and even across areas of the open countryside as well....
• War graves and cemeteries
  The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) is a joint government organisation responsible for establishing and maintaining the graves of members...