I recently created a Remembrance Day display for the school’s library and put out a bunch of non-fiction Remembrance-themed books (it’s non-fiction November) to encourage some recognition of this day, which seems all but forgotten at the school I’m in.
In general, I find that the UK hardly acknowledges the day beyond the confines of official events and wearing a poppy. The students barely know what the significance of the day is and time doesn’t seem to be spent observing Remembrance Day at all.
It’s so strange to me because I can remember it in Winnipeg and the beautiful assemblies we would have every year to recognise different soldiers and their lost lives or their stories, both present and past. There were performances from dancers and choirs and band with presentations from veterans and cadets. A student trumpet player would play The Last Post and we would observe one minute of silence. It seemed that there was a pointed effort to ingrain understanding in our young minds.
It bothers me that it’s such an after-thought in schools here in London and the UK.
And I want to add a disclaimer because I probably won’t observe two minutes of silence at 11:11 since I’ll be in a conference and I’ve never attended a Remembrance Day event outside of school beyond something televised. But I still make the effort to remember and acknowledge, which I think is the important part of it all, and which is something I don’t see here.
Thank you to those who served their countries in whichever wars they served, whether it be through fighting or medical or any number of forgotten parts of the army, navy, or air force.
Travelled Adventures 