It's coming up to what in Canada we call "Remembrance Day", and I was wondering what people do to mark this day in other places. I understand that this is a holiday in the UK, and the US, as well? Here, schools and government offices, and some businesses, are closed, and we have a ceremony outdoors at the cenotaph. This is usually fairly well attended, even though it's a cold time of year. This is a military community, and they tend to take this sort of thing very seriously. The Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, and Cadets all participate in the outdoor ceremony. (This is the first year in ten years that my son will not be part of the ceremony, he's been in the scouting movement since he was four, but is now too old for Scouts.) Then everyone marches down the street for about 6 blocks, to the indoor, longer ceremony, which is very well attended indeed.
The week before, there are lots of thing going on in schools, such as visits from veterans, and people who have worked with victims of land mines, etc. The school children all have a Remembrance ceremony of their own on the day before.
Especially in view of the situation in Iraq, I'm wondering what different communities plan for this day of Remembrance.

In Britain there's no public holiday on 11 November. In the last few years it has again become common to observe a minute's silence at 11 am. The main formal commemoration is on the Sunday closest to 11 November. There's a major, televised ceremony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall there are smaller acts of remembrance in many towns and villages.

Surprisingly I've never heard of that, and I'm just a hop away in the US. I'll have to really keep my eyes open this year.

One thing we have in Britain is (artificial) poppies, the British Legion sell them on the run up to Rememberance Sunday, they represent the poppies in the fields of Flanders during the first world war.

Yes, we have the artificial poppies too. I think it's up to the individual provinces here in Canada whether the 11th is a holiday. Here in Alberta it was, then wasn't, and now is again, but not observed by everybody.
I'm surprised to hear that you don't have something like this in the States. I thought you had Veteran's Day. Is that not on the 11 Nov?

Misty, It's called Veterans' Day in the United States, and it is indeed a National Holiday. I guess the ceremonial part would vary depending upon where you live, but schools, banks, government facilities, and many private facilities are closed on Veterans' Day.

Sadly the day isn't a holiday in the UK - AND we don't enforce the TWO minute silence (one for each war being remembered) - a number of us will stand and observe the moment of thought on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month but in most places it will go unobserved and not noticed. The "celebration" having moved to the nearest Sunday!
BUT - We will remember them!

Here in Australia it is also called Remembrance Day. There are fake poppies on sale in most shops at the moment. It isn't a holiday here, either. Our memorial holiday is ANZAC Day on 25 April each year. Some people observe a minute's silence at 11am but that is an individual thing, not across the board. We usually did it when I was at school but many businesses don't.

Two minutes of silence once a year doesn't seem like much, really. I'm glad I live in a community that, on the whole, supports Remembrance Day. It makes it harder for me to get away with looking at it as just another day. So, I'll be out there, shivering, remembering for two minutes, then listening to that lonely bugle call. I hope some of you join us.

It is coming up again soon so I thought I would add a little - as has already been said, the 2 minute silence is not a requirement as such in the UK although every employer I have had has always done something to indicate to busy employees that the 11th minute of the 11th hour has come - so there is an element of recognition, not just by individuals. And my employers are not cuddly, thoughtful types - we're talking city lawyers! Boo! Hiss!

My current employer does a 5 second blast on the fire alarm and it is not uncommon for employees at that point to switch on their voicemail to stop the phone ringing and stop working for the two minutes. I am always one of them and I find it surprisingly moving. It's odd really - I would expect it to be a far-removed thing - not in my living memory and so on, and yet the thought of all that sacrifice and suffering makes me so sad. I wonder whether, (and apologies for this, as it does sound so trite) it is the knowledge that there is no end to suffering and wars will continue around the world, that adds to this sadness - the lessons are not always learned and families, and lives continue to be severed.

This is my most important day of the year. I insist on attending a Rememberance Day ceremony, while working (I would dare my employer to say no) or on my own time if it's a day off. I take my kids if they're not in school. How can you look at all those old men and not feel for them, knowing they're standing there, thinking of the friends they lost, and thanking God that they made it through?

It breaks my heart and I shed a tear when they play The Last Post. I feel that my standing there with the old soldiers, the bravest of the brave, is just my way of saying "Thank you, for letting my children grow up free."

Everyone should be there. It's just one day a year to remember those that gave all their days for all of us.

My Great Uncle was gassed and left for dead in World War One. Forty years later he still woke up in the middle of the night, screaming. EVERY NIGHT. The horrors of war cannot be comprehended by modern society.

We must never forget them.

Yes, we have Remembrance Day here. At school, at 11am, on the 11th November a meeting is usually held so the minutes silence can be observed. The 11th doesn't always fall on a weekday and if that happens the moment of silence is held on the Monday back.

Just a thought, though God forbid it should happen. The two minutes' silence happens because of the two wars. What if in years time there is a three minutes silence. I don't doubt it could happen, with a war already in Iraq. But may God forbid it.

I had this roommate once. He was a good guy (hard to understand sometimes) but good nonetheless. 6 kids and two busted marriages - but he tried always to get it right. On Veteran's Day one year I got up and made him a nice dinner and acknowledged that he had served in Vietnam. No one had even mentioned it and this big, snore-like-a-fussy-camel man cried because someone did. Service is important. Those who do it, no matter where or how they do, matters. I think that all they want is for us to know it. And maybe say a "thanks". They don't start the wars. They just fight them.

My paternal grandfather, fought, at both the first, and second Battles of the Somme. He fought with honour, valour, and with pride, he fought with the believe, that people would never, ever, have to do the things he had done, he fought with the believe that future generations, would never have to experience the things he had, never ever, suffer the horror of death on a battle field, or in the trench's, or to see most of your contemporaries die. Granadad have de-mobbed in 1919, he was de-mobbed into a world he did not understand. He came back to Ireland, it had changed to such a degree that he was never to feel in his own country comfortable again. My granddad, Jack, was still on the active list in 1939, and although he lived in the Republic of Ireland, made a conscious decision to serve again. He served between 1940-1946 in probably the most dangerous position in any army, Head of the The Pay Corp. We still remember Jack, My dad like me is a pacifist, he loves the memory of his dad, but will not wear the medals. My older brother wears them every Remembrance Sunday, in Monmouth

It's Nov 11 here, now, so we all have a day off. We'll be going out to the cenotaph for the ceremony at 11. This is the first year in 12 years that I will have no one in my family participating in the ceremony, but by now it's a habit in our family, we won't miss it. It's clear out, and minus 10 C (14 F) so we'd better dress warm. They always have four cadets in the ceremony, who stand, with their coats off, motionless, for the two minute silence. I don't know the name of the stance, they sort of bow over their rifles. Pretty cold for young boys, some years it is very cold here on this date.

Boohoo. I don't have the day off. I go to a state school and I had all my normal classes. I got jipped.