Remembrance Day

National War Memorial, Adelaide

Last year on November 11, while on a free guided tour of the Adelaide Botanical Gardens, I was introduced to Remembrance Day in Australia.  Our tour began at 10:30 and shortly after our guide began to anxiously look at her watch.  At 10:55 she explained to the group of mostly foreigners how it was Poppy Day (aka Remembrance Day) and that at 11:00 we would take one minute of silence to commemorate the sacrifices of those who have died or suffered in all wars and armed conflicts.  Even though the guide did not explain the significance of the date or time, I have since learned that at 11 am on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 there was a cease fire on the western front after more than four years of continuous warfare.  November 11th is not a public holiday in Australia but a moment of silence is observed by many.