“Back”
They ask me where I’ve been,
And what I’ve done and seen.
But what can I reply
Who know it wasn’t I,
But someone just like me,
Who went across the sea
And with my head and hands
Killed men in foreign lands…
Though I must bear the blame,
Because he bore my name
By Wilfred Gibson (1878-1962)
On the 11th November, at 11am, there is a two minute silence to mark the end of the First World War, and to commemo- rate everyone lost in any war. The act of remembering serves not only as an act of respect for those who have fought, or are still fighting, but also tries to help us think about the ways in which we can appreciate our lives. At this time on 11th November 1918 the Armistice Agreement was signed, bringing an end to the four years of fighting that had preceded it. It started as Armistice Day, then after the Second World War, became Remembrance Day in respect of all other solders. On the second Sunday of November there is Remembrance Sunday, when the Cenotaph occurs at Whitechapel, where people lay wreaths at the base of a memorial.
The poppy is worn throughout November as another mark of re- spect, due to the fact poppies grew on the battle fields of France in the first war, when nothing else would.
After Moina Michael’s poem “We shall keep the faith”, written in No- vember 1918, the line ‘And now the Torch and Poppy Red, We wear in honor of our dead’ created the tradi- tion of wearing these flowers.
If you want to take part in a Re- membrance Day in York there are a number of ways you can do so. The York Memorial in the Minster Gardens to pay your respects. However, the most important part is just remembering to remember. Wear your poppy with pride and spare two minutes to think about what sacrifices others have made for us to have the opportunities we have today.
Theatre Royal is hosting a Festival of Remembrance on Sunday 7th November which will include a variety of musical performances, while on Sunday 14th there will be a Remembrance Parade through town. If you wanted to remem- ber alone maybe take a trip to the York War Memo-