The Importance of Remembrance Day
Each year on November 11, people throughout the Commonwealth and across the world pause for a moment of silence. They gather at cenotaphs, memorials, schools, and workplaces to honour those who gave their lives in military service.
"This solemn occasion is known as Remembrance Day, a day not only to remember the fallen but also to reflect on the cost of war, the value of peace, and the continuing duty to preserve freedom."
Originating after the First World War, Remembrance Day continues to hold deep significance today, reminding us that the lessons of the past must never fade. The first observance took place in 1919, marking one year since the signing of the armistice that ended the First World War.
The armistice was signed on November 11, 1918, at 11 a.m.—the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. The conflict had raged for more than four years and cost over 16 million lives worldwide, including more than 60,000 Canadians. Entire communities lost a generation of young men, leaving countless families changed forever.
In the years following the war, nations sought meaningful ways to remember the fallen. Ceremonies, monuments, and memorials arose across Europe, Canada, Australia, and other countries to commemorate those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Summary
Remembrance Day is a timeless reminder of sacrifice, peace, and the enduring responsibility to safeguard the freedoms earned through history’s profound losses.