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The two minutes silence I The early years I The national ceremony I The laying of wreaths I The service I The march past

Remembrance - The National Ceremony

On Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph the British People call to mind the sacrifice of those who fell in war. It falls on this date because 11 November is the date on which the Armistice was signed at Compiègne, France on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 and for that reason, Remembrance Sunday is still referred to as Armistice Day by many people, particularly the older generation. (11th November is Veterans Day in the USA and Armistice Day in France). The Armistice effectively ended the Great War, although the peace treaty formally ending it was not signed until 28 June 1919 at Versailles, Paris.

At the ceremony, the nation is represented in the person of the Sovereign, who invariably attends. Other members of the Royal Family may be present or at Remembrance Day ceremonies at overseas locations at the same time. Members of the Royal Family may be wearing the uniform of the Service in which they hold appointments or Royal Honorary appointments. In addition to the main Christian denominations, since 2000, the ceremony has been attended by representatives of Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Sikhism. Representative detachments of the Armed Services are drawn up on parade in uniform. They form a hollow square around the Cenotaph. Household troops parade in full dress uniform. Detachments are present from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service, Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service, the Submarine Service, Royal Horse Artillery, dismounted troopers of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, Foot Guards, Gurkha Rifles, Royal Logistic Corps, the Queen's Colour Squadron of the Royal Air Force, Royal Auxiliary Air Force, Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets and the Territorial Army. In attendance are also Her Majesty's Coast Guard, the Merchant Air Service, the British Red Cross, the Saint John Ambulance Brigade and the Women's Royal Voluntary Service.