A lil' background history, the day is observed (the word 'celebrated' might not be too politically correct) on 11 November every year to commemorate the official end of the First World War which happened on the elevent hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918 in which the German signed the Armistice.
In the UK, the commemoration was more than just a one-day thing. Beginning November, people start to wear the red poppy flower on their jackets and coats to show their appreciation to fallen warriors who died fighting in the war. One could also see lotsa booths set up in the middle of the town selling poppy flowers to passers-by to raise fund and donation to help veterans who're struggling with their lives for many reasons (disability and along those lines) as by-products of their involvement in the war. And on Sunday following Remembrance Day (which is called Remembrance Sunday), there is usually some sort of parade where people gathered at the street to see the veterans marching holding emblems of whatever regiments they once served. I didn't go to this year's parade (which should have taken place today morning) but here are photos from last year's parade I went simply for the kick =p:
Going back to the poem, here is In Flanders Fields written by a Canadian physician and Liutenant Colonel John McCrae who wrote it after he saw his friend died the day before. The poppy flower became the symbol for the day because it used to grow all over the battlefields and the graves of those who died fighting and I guess the blood-red colour of the flower just epitomises the amount of blood shed during the war:
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 sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
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.
Another famous poem related to Remembrance Day is Recessional by my favourite poet, Rudyard Kipling (not so much as an author, still struggling to finish his The Jungle Books!). The poem was written well before WWI but it resonates well the theme of remembering the sacrifice of fallen soldiers and the price of fighting for dominance! That is how the line 'Lest we forget' becomes some sort of tagline for the day. It's widely used on epitaph or war memorials.
God of our fathers, known of old—
Lord of our far-flung battle line—
Beneath whose awful hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine—
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!
The tumult and the shouting dies—
The Captains and the Kings depart—
Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!
Far-called our navies melt away—
On dune and headland sinks the fire—
Lo, all our pomp of yesterday
Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!
Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!
If, drunk with sight of power, we loose
Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe—
Such boastings as the Gentiles use,
Or lesser breeds without the Law—
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!
For heathen heart that puts her trust
In reeking tube and iron shard—
All valiant dust that builds on dust,
And guarding calls not Thee to guard.
For frantic boast and foolish word,
Thy Mercy on Thy People, Lord!
Amen.
Back when I was in Edinburgh, I stumbled across this war memorial (not quite sure for which war) commemorating the regiments from all over the Commonwealth realms that helped the Great Britain and there was this sense of pride when I saw our country's name and alongside the pride was this shame because I never really appreciate what our servicemen have done for me and the country's citizens in general. Remembrance Day is really a big thing here and the fact that it is observed by even the younger generation can be seen so obviously (the fund raising, the wearing of the poppy flower, people bringing their children to see the parade) I sort of feel ashamed because I never really bothered about our very own Hari Pahlawan or Warriors' Day.
Back in my schooldays (which weren't that far ages ago), I remembered teachers passing around some sort of letters every year asking for donation for our own Hari Pahlawan (Warriors' Day) which is celebrated on 31 July (I onnly remember it because I was born on the day after - get the hint people =p !!!). I was suppossed to give the letter to my parents to get donation but I never really bothered. My bad =(! Yes, much have been said about our own security forces but many servicemen have died to bring us to the peaceful (relatively speaking) state we're in now so I guess a great proportion of them still deserves credits!
So I guess the reason why I'm writing this post is just so I can look back and remember, lest I forget!
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