What is Remembrance Day? - Behind the News

The community of Bridgewater in the Adelaide Hills has never had a proper war memorial. So, these kids and others from the local school, decided to design and build a new one. After five long years of work it's now nearly finished.

REPORTER: Can you tell me what's left to do?

IZZY: There's going to be a boomerang with a rising sun at the back, and a sign with Remember on it down the front and some fences and pavers.

REPORTER: The boomerang with the rising sun, what does that mean?

IZZY: That symbolises that all Australians part of the war.

Memorials and monuments like one this are a common feature of Remembrance Day commemorations right around the world.

At 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month, people gather at places like the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne or the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. They stand still and silent and then listen to a bugler playing The Last Post. People have been marking Remembrance Day like this since 1919. But back then, it was actually called Armistice Day because it marked the anniversary of the day the armistice was signed and the first World War finally ended. At the time, hundreds of people gathered in London to celebrate the end of the conflict and to remember those who died. People did the same here in Australia.

The tradition of silence on Remembrance Day was actually suggested by an Aussie journalist Edward Honey. He thought it'd be a 'sacred' gesture to acknowledge those who died fighting for peace. Britain’s king at the time, King George the fifth liked the idea and declared two minutes' silence across the British Empire.
Since the first Armistice ceremony, people have added new traditions to the commemorations, like wearing red poppies. That was inspired by a poem called In Flanders Fields which describes the poppies that sprung up on abandoned battlefields in France and Belgium.

Later on in 1945 when World War Two ended, the Australian and British governments changed the name of Armistice Day to Remembrance Day instead so that the people who served in all wars could be remembered together. The Last Post, poetry, poppies and a bunch of other traditions are still important parts of the memorials that happen today.

Along with places like this in the Adelaide Hills that will proudly form the centrepiece of these kids' commemorations for years to come.

ISABELLE: Well I did have a great grandad, my mum did and he fought in WWI. I’ve never actually thought of him as a soldier before and now there's a place here, I find it's easier.

JACKSON: It makes me feel happy because it's a great place to meet up and it's in a good spot.

IZZY: It's special to me because it's a place not just to remember but it's a place for everyone. It's not just for one subject, it's sort of a place where you can do anything really.



_


For the past 50 years, Behind the News has been helping to break down current issues and events for young people all around the world. The program is a high-energy, fun way for people to learn about the stories we see in the news, while providing background information that isn’t usually given by other news bulletins.

We have over 1000 stories on all sorts of topics - everything from politics & volcanoes, to online security & fortnite. If you're looking for help to understand something, you'll probably find it on BTN.

Make sure to like & subscribe our videos if you want to stay in the know!

Visit our website: http://www.abc.net.au/btn/

Follow us on Social Media:

Facebook:   / abcbtn  
Instagram:   / behindthenews  
Twitter:   / behindthenews