Excellent education and free health care are one of the biggest pull factors of the UK, explaining why thousands of people choose the UK as a suitable place to migrate. Britain now is a place free from war and although it is a cold place temperature wise, is full of warmth and love that is welcoming and shown in different ways. But, with happiness comes pain and sadness. Britain would not be how it is today if it weren’t for those heroic souls that protected and saved the country with their lives on the line in WWI and WWII.
Remembrance Day, which falls on 11th November, is a day for the whole nation to remember and honour the people who sacrificed themselves to protect Britain and our freedom. If it weren’t for their courage and selflessness, the Britain we know and cherish today would not be here. At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day at the eleventh month ever year, we observe a 2 minute silence to mark the end of World War I and pay our respect to those who paid the price for our happiness and freedom.
The first two minute silence was held on 11 November 1919 after a request from King George V to observe a silence at 11am. The request was made so “the thoughts of everyone may be concentrated on the reverent of the glorious dead.” Since then, the two minute silence was continued every year; 2014 marked the 100th since the start of WWI.
Mr Binay, who is an officer than has served in the police force for more than 3 years commented that Remembrance Day matters as it “shows honour to people who built the nation and deserve respect; the memorial is a tribute to show our sincerity and respect, as well as thank them for doing what they did, so we could lead a happy life in a place like Britain.”
When asked about his thoughts on the importance of the two minute silence, he believes that it “helps people remember the moment and acknowledge the pain felt by those who fell during both World Wars and conflicts since 1945”
Remembrance Day is right around the corner; it is important that you pay respect to those who sacrificed their lives for the betterment of the country. Make sure you and everyone around you is aware of Remembrance Day and the importance of it, and are ready to relive this moment in history once again, the 99th year since the end of World War I.
Ursula Karki
Eltham Hill School
