Remembrance past and present – the effects of war. Why do we still need to mark Remembrance Day one hundred years after the end of the Great War?

Remembrance past and present – the effects of war This is a poppy. At this time of year, we wear a poppy to remember those whose lives have been affected by wars and active Service in the Armed Forces.

Remembrance past and present – the effects of war Even after life seemed to be destroyed on the battlefields of the First World War, this little flower managed to survive in the churned up mud of France and Belgium. Poppies are a symbol of hope. The poppy became a symbol of hope, that those who had fought would be remembered by future generations and that that sacrifice of all those who were killed and injured would not have been in vain. There is a very famous poem from the First World War which inspired the use of the poppy as a symbol of Remembrance. It is called In Flanders Fields and it was written by a Canadian doctor called John McCrae.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw the sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. John McCrae

Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw In Flanders Fields Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders Fields. This is a lovely poem but it is also a poem with a message. It talks about passing on the torch – do you know what that might mean? It means that he wants us to remember all those who died. John McCrae wanted the horror that he had seen to be remembered so that the sacrifice of those who had fought would not be forgotten.

Remembrance past and present – the effects of war After the War ended, it was so terrible some just wanted to forget about it, but because so many millions had been involved, more people wanted it to be remembered. They didn’t want those killed and injured to be forgotten. It was hoped that, if people remembered how bad war was, it might not happen again. It was hoped the Great War would be the War to End all Wars.

Remembrance past and present – the effects of war The anniversary of the end of the First World War in 1919 caused people to reflect on how the War had impacted them and their families. Although the pain would never completely go away, it was decided that there would be one day every year for Remembrance of those had sacrificed their lives.

Remembrance past and present – the effects of war It was decided the day would be the anniversary of when the fighting had stopped. That day is 11 November, and the fighting stopped at 11 o’clock in the morning. So at 11 o’clock on the 11th day of the 11th month of the year, we wear a poppy to think and reflect on war and its impact. The day is called Remembrance Day and on that day important things happen. People hold an act of Remembrance. At an act of Remembrance a number of things can happen – poems can be read, so can names, letters, or anything that enables us to remember those killed and injured and what they and their families went through.

Remembrance past and present – the effects of war Optional: Around the world, services can be held at war memorials. To key things happen during the service- the reading of the Exhortation and then a Two Minute Silence. We’re going to watch a piece of film from the Battle of the Somme, one of the worst battles of the First World War. The piece of film is 100 years old – there is no sound to it and it is not like modern footage. http://www.britishpathe.com/video/battle-of-the-somme

Remembrance past and present – the effects of war At many Remembrance ceremonies The Exhortation is spoken. This is a stanza from a poem, For The Fallen by English poet, Laurence Binyon, written in 1914. They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them. At the end everyone repeats the line ‘We will Remember them’. The act of Remembrance happens all over the country and in many parts of the world on the 11 November and then again on Remembrance Sunday. But is it just the First World War that is remembered? Laurence Binyon

Remembrance past and present – the effects of war After the Second World War, (1939-1945,) many communities decided to make Remembrance Day about that conflict as well. Now Remembrance Day and the poppy are about remembering, thinking about and showing respect for all those affected by conflicts from the First World War until today. Can you think of some more recent conflicts? Remembrance Day is also about those who served in more recent conflicts such as the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars and who are still on active service all over the world. We also think about their families, as they also suffer when their loved one is injured or killed.

Remembrance past and present – the effects of war During the two World Wars, millions of people were killed and even more were injured, often very badly. Many returned home injured in ways preventing them from working or doing normal everyday things. Today, military medical teams are well trained to save those wounded, but they still can have terrible injuries. Others can suffer from the experience of seeing friends and civilians killed - being in a war is a traumatic experience. Those men and women and their families sometimes need help.

Remembrance past and present – the effects of war Optional: People injured in modern conflicts might need help and support because of their injuries for another 60 years. So since the First World War selling poppies has raised money to help people whose lives have been changed by war and this continues to this day. We are going to watch a film of one such person http://www.poppyscotland.org.uk/learning/public/media/view/26-mat-s-tribute-

Remembrance past and present – the effects of war To date, there has been only one year since the Second World War when there have been no British deaths on active Service- that was in 1968. Over 1,000 military personnel were killed in the Korean War, 722 during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, 456 in the war in Afghanistan and 159 in Iraq. That means that whether we are aware of it or not, people in our Armed Forces are still risking their lives for our country. Many more end up injured and they will carry the burden and memory of their Service for the rest of their lives. For all those people, let us spend one day a year reflecting on that sacrifice and hope that the next generation will work to make the future peaceful.