November 11 is Remembrance Day.
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On this day we remember the sacrifices the young enlisted soldiers made for us and our country.
We observe a two minute silence at 11am each year to show our respect and to remember those who have died in war.
This year marks 99 years since the end of World War One.
Gather at the memorial statue on the riverbank in town, opposite the bank on Saturday.
A short service will be held at 11am honoring those whose lives were lost at war. Afterwards a morning tea will be held at Macksville Ex-services Club for the community.
“Next year will be a huge event to mark 100 years since this war has ended,” Garry McKay, President of the RSL Sub branch said.
“Preparations are already under way for next year with three local RSL Clubs planning to come together” Mr McKay said.
HISTORICAL FACTS
- Back in 1918, soldiers far from home fighting for their country ceased fire on this day.
- At 11am every year, we observe a two minute silence to show our respect to them and to remember the people who have died in war.
- Also known as Armistice Day, Nov 11 signifies the armistice that was signed between the allies of World War One and Germany at Compiègne, France for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front, which took effect at eleven o'clock of that morning.
- Officially signed at 5am the peace treaty took hours to come into affect, at 11am.
- Four years of fighting, the conflict of WWI left between 9 and 13 million dead and as many as one third of these without a grave.
- The end of the war was greeted by mass celebrations, people cheered and danced in the streets celebrating the impending return of loved ones.
- Poppies are sold on this day after becoming a widely accepted symbol of Remembrance Day. The red poppy was given this honor after it was one of the first plants to grow on the blood soaked battlefields after the war.