View Full Version : A couple of questions about the UK
In the UK do you honor a representative Unknown Soldier as we do in the US at Arlington National Cemetery?
Also, do you celebrate any public holidays to honor veterans or those service personnel who gave their lives?
In the US we celebrate MEMORIAL DAY, which is the last Monday in May, and VETERANS' DAY which is November 11th.
On Memorial Day many Americans fly American Flags from their homes and businesses. Small town or large city, flags are everywhere. In most towns and cities small flags are placed on the gravestones of veterans by Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and veterans' organizations.
On Veterans' Day motor parades are the order of the day with marching bands and veterans serving as Color Guards and Rifle Guards. If a military facility is nearby, they will usually send a marching unit of some kind. At Arlington, the President lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers.
On both days many cemetaries hold a special ceremony attended by veterans and Color and Rifle Guards.
On both holidays most businesses are open, but schools and public offices are closed.
Thanks!
Hi Rigger
After WW1 all the friendly nations decided to inter remains of one unknown soldier from each country in a prominent place where they could be honoured yearly. Britain's was put in Whitehall in a Memorial called the Cenotaph (near 10 Downing Street) and on the nearest Sunday to the 11th November they have a march past with remaining veterans of all wars since then. Brings a lump to the throat.
I'm afraid this country woefully undercelebrates it's wartime achievements as it is seem to be too militaristic! There are no Public Holidays to mark these although I seem to recall a few years ago a campaign to have a day off for Trafalgar Day (look it up on a search engine with the words Lord Nelson If you want to know because it's too much to describe)
Hope that helps
I am not familiar with Whitehall, but I will look it up on the web so that I can see the location.
I am DEFINITELY familiar with 10 Downing Street and that address brings instantly to my mind images of PM Winston Churchill!
I am basically familiar with Lord Nelson at Trafalgar and that famous event sounds like it would be the ideal for a holiday.
Thanks for the info!
The Whitehall Cenotaph is a war memorial only. The remains of the Unknown Warrior are interned in the west end of the knave of Westminster Abbey.
It is a place of quiet reflection and honour. I payed my respects a year ago and as tosh66 states, it brings a lump to the throat. The parade on Rememberance Day is solemn and respectful. There are so very few veterans of the Great War now - a small handful. Many of these old warriors live at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea and are known as the Chelsea Pensioners.
There is a lot more information to be found here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/unknown_warrior.shtml
For information on Chelsea have a look here:
http://www.chelsea-pensioners.org.uk/
Whitehall info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitehall
The Russians have their Unknown Warrior buried in Moscow just off the Alexandrovsky Sad (Alexander Gardens). It has an undying flame and is outside the Kremlin walls. I have visited this site on many occasions and when it is cold and snowing, the imagery is extremely powerful.
Information can be found here:
http://www.moscow-guide.ru/culture/kremlin/kremlin5.htm
I stand corrected! Twas a bit early for that post.
Does not France's Unknown Soldier lie beneath the Arche de Triomphe in Paris?
Yes it does!
Engraved around the top of the Arch are the names of major victories won during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic periods. The names of less important victories, as well as those of 558 generals, are to found on the inside walls. Generals whose names are underlined died in action.
There are subways to get to the Arc as it is a major "roundabout". I didn't know this when I visited and ran across the road, seeing death whizzing at me in the shape of a Citroen!
Well, my mind rests a little easier knowing that the U.S. is not the only country where one risks tire treads across one's nose because of crazy cab drivers!
Just a little addtion to Steve's fine explantion, a brief history of our Memorial Day. As it says here, it is a time we honor our war dead. Veterans Day, used to be call Armistice Day, is for honoring our living Veterans. Two of our veterans service clubs, the VFW-Veterans of Foreign Wars and The American Legion sell poppies starting about the middle of May to help remind us of our vets and what they have sacrificed for us. The poppy is, of course, remindful of Flanders Field.
Memorial Day
Memorial Day, legal holiday, observed annually on the last Monday in
May in most of the United States, in honor of the nation's armed
services personnel killed in wartime. The holiday, originally called
Decoration Day, is traditionally marked by parades, memorial
speeches and ceremonies, and the decoration of graves with flowers
and flags, hence the original name. Memorial Day was first observed
on May 30, 1868, on the order of General John Alexander Logan for
the purpose of decorating the graves of the American Civil War dead.
It was observed on May 30 until 1971, when most states changed to a
newly established federal schedule of holiday observance.
Confederate Memorial Day, formerly a legal holiday in many southern
states, is still observed on the fourth Monday in April in Alabama,
the last Monday in April in Mississippi, and April 26 in Florida and
Georgia.
In the UK veterans are pretty much back seat stuff in the eyes of the public. We see Kipling's "Tommy" (post on this forum) and the apt quote from the bible - maybe changing things around a bit but "A prophet is without honour in his own country".
No one applauds or celebrates veterans; only those who are veterans and those who served. So saying, the people I know and knew are/were very much self effacing anyway. It's nice to see your people are honoured though.
Zofo,
To be perfectly honest about it, most Americans just see Memorial Day as the unofficial start of summer and a 3 day weekend to get out of town. It is largely the same here with vetrans the only ones caring about veterans for the most part. There is a bit of a resurgance in interest now with the Iraq War so prominent in the news. That will fade with time however.
I'm slighty familiar with the "Tommy this and tommy that" story/poem (?)
It's by Kipling isn't it? It's all too true.
Ah well, so it goes! At least there is a day.
Kipling is the master of this genre and buried in Westminster Abbey.
balderick2490
02-05-04, 19:12
Almost 3 years ago i had the Honour to Take part int the Rememberance Day parade as Part of the Scout Asssociation Contingent
And it is truly a moving expierence
The Atmosphere in Horse guards before the parade is a Mixture of Somber relflection and Jolly reunion
I just wish that more people took the time to remember the fallen
ben
Bombardier
02-05-04, 19:19
Almost 3 years ago i had the Honour to Take part int the Rememberance Day parade as Part of the Scout Asssociation Contingent
And it is truly a moving expierence
The Atmosphere in Horse guards before the parade is a Mixture of Somber relflection and Jolly reunion
I just wish that more people took the time to remember the fallen
ben
Well said Ben, I totally agree with you, as do everybody else here I'm sure
Frisco-Kid
03-05-04, 04:12
OUR MEMORIAL DAY
is celebrated on the last Monday of May. This is the day designated to honor all of our War Dead. To most people, it's just another 3 day weekend to look forward to. But not everyone. There will be parades held and speeches given in cities and towns across the country. Military cemetaries will be decked out in American flags, one placed at each grave by Boy and Girl Scouts, Veterans groups, the military, and volunteer citizens. Most forget,........but not everyone. For many of us, it's a day to say to ourselves the names of the ones that we remember.
vBulletin® v3.7.0, Copyright ©2000-2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.