Tomorrow, Sunday 11th of November marks the 100th anniversary of the Armistice which ended World War I (1914-1918) on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
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| State War Monument surrounded by poppies. the square plaques with names are for soldiers who received the Victoria Cross |
At 1 minute before 11, almost 180 volunteer buglers stationed in various parts of the city will play the "Last Post". About 40% of these players are school kids, with the youngest player being 7 years old and the eldest is 90. About 6000 people are expected to attend the service.
After the service the RSLWA (Returned and Services League of Western Australia) encourage veterans and families to attend the Centenary of Armistice picnic at Government House Gardens from 12 to 3pm.
The reason for my visit to Kings Park today was to avoid to crowds tomorrow and see the splash of red poppies, knitted by thousands of volunteers for the Poppy Project - 61,513 different poppies representing the Australians killed in the 51 months that WW1 lasted.
Each handmade poppy took about 2 hours to knit by the "Poppy Ladies" and they worked on this project for about 18 months.
They've done a wonderful work!
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| Over 60000 hand knitted poppies |
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| One of the Poppy ladies chatted to some people about the project |
And why are poppies the symbol of Remembrance day? It's said that a friend of Canadian Lt. Col. John McCrae was killed at the Battle of Ypres in Belgium. He then wrote this poem that he called "In Flanders Fields".
These fabricated poppies are quite a splash of colour, and just right for the 11th.
ReplyDeleteI'm planning on attending the national service here tomorrow, and visiting the War Museum afterwards.
It should be a beautiful service for sure William.
Delete...an impressive tribute.
ReplyDeleteThank you Tom.
DeleteI still have the sheet of poppy-Gallipoli-seeds right by my PC P presented us with in 2015.
ReplyDeleteI can´t decide what to feel. War is so darn stupid, honour is another thing.
Just saw a docu on men who lost their faces in WW I. Like... really.
Why can´t people live in peace, poppies I´d love anyways.
They are beautiful.
Nothing has been learned from previous wars it seems as wars and conflicts are still ongoing, which is very sad.
DeleteThat is so sobering, Sami.
ReplyDeleteThank you Pat.
DeleteWow, Sami. What wonderful pictures. Did you take these?
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of making knitted poppies. What a great tribute!
Yes Carole, I went to Kings Park yesterday to avoid the crowds today and as I knew the poppies had already been "planted".
DeleteGreat work in Kings Park. It looks quite spectacular.
ReplyDeleteThanks Andrew, it does look spectacular.
DeleteCame to your heart-warming post from Carole's and arrive on your doorstep from the Southern Highlands of NSW. Thank you for telling the world of one part of the many, many poppy fields around Australia this Sunday morning . . . we have not nor ever can forget the tragedies and sacrifices then or many times after . . . I wish we had learned from the losses . . .
ReplyDeleteThanks for your visit Eha.
DeleteSadly I think the lessons haven't been learnt and there are still far too many wars and conflicts around the world.
What a fabulous tribute. I had NO idea so many Australians were killed in WWI. It was devastating to see so many poppies and realize what they represented. I'm so glad the poppy ladies created all these. They are so amazing. BTW, I also noted the Last Post in my tribute today. It was lovely to hear it.
ReplyDeleteThank you Elizabeth. I didn't know so many Australians had died either.
DeleteThe Last Post is beautiful and very moving.
Such a wonderful tribute, and the pictures of those beautiful poppies brought tears to my eyes. As always, you shared some new to me information that is truly appreciated! Hugs...RO
ReplyDeleteThank you RO, it was very moving to see the field of poppies.
Deletethese memorials are very beautiful and moving. I am always very touched by the way the anglo-saxons fervently commemorate the fate of these soldiers who died in the first world war. the strange thing is that poppies began to disappear from the fields because of the chemical treatment of agriculture at the same time as the last survivors of this butchery that was this war
ReplyDeleteThank you Kwarkito. Australians do like to honour those who fought and those who died in the various wars.
DeleteThat's sad about the poppies dying because of chemicals :(
The flower isn't as synonymous with our Veterans Day as they are with the WWI armitstice days. It's rather strange how America never hopped on that train.
ReplyDeleteStrange, here they use the poppies for all war commemorations.
DeleteUm dia muito importante e a não esquecer para que não se caia numa III Guerra Mundial.
ReplyDeleteAs fotografias estão fantásticas minha amiga.
Um abraço e bom Domingo.
Andarilhar
Dedais de Francisco e Idalisa
Livros-Autografados
Obrigada Francisco. Nao sei se a licao foi aprendida pois continuam a haver muitos conflitos em todo o mundo infelizmente.
DeleteBom Domingo.
Incroyable shots Sami. So many poppies, so much work, so worth it for this amazing sight 💜
ReplyDeleteThanks Grace, I loved that I could visit, it was really an incredible sight!
DeleteThis is so beautiful -- I love how they did the poppies.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jeanie, a lot of work and dedication from wonderful volunteers.
DeleteDearest Sami,
ReplyDeleteWonderful tribute to the 100-year anniversary of the ending of WWI.
Wonder if the younger generation still realizes that a World War involved the entire world and so many sacrifices were made.
Love the poppy fields created by hand, either knitted or crocheted.
Hugs,
Mariette
In Australia a lot of the younger generation, grandkids and great-grandkids of those that fought in WW1 and WW2 also attend the parades and tributes. I find that wonderful that the families carry on the traditions of honouring their fallen war veterans. Thanks Mariette.
DeleteKudos to that discipline for keeping the tradition alive!
Delete♥
A most amazing, beautiful and impressive tribute.
ReplyDeleteLest we forget.
All the best Jan