Remembrance Day

1. What do you think are the reasons societies remember past conflicts or wars?
2. Do you think remembrance is more about honoring the past or learning for the future? Why?
3. What do you already know about Remembrance Day or the poppy symbol? Where have you seen it before?
4. Why do you think the poppy became a symbol of remembrance?
5. How should we remember those who died in wars? Through ceremonies, education, silence, art…? Why?
6. Is it important for younger generations to learn about wars they didn’t experience? Why or why not?
7. Do you think national remembrance events can promote peace, or can they sometimes encourage nationalism? Explain your view.
8. Should remembrance focus only on military sacrifice, or also on civilians affected by war? Why?

The History of Remembrance Day

Observed annually on the 11th of November across numerous Commonwealth nations—most (1)_____________ (NOTABLE) the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand—Remembrance Day stands as a solemn (2)______________ (COMMEMORATE) of the conclusion of the First World War. It was on this very date in 1918 that an armistice, (3)_______________ (ESSENTIAL) a formal cessation of (4)________________ (HOSTILE), was signed between Germany and the Allied Powers, thereby bringing an end to what had been one of the most catastrophic conflicts in human history. What renders this date particularly (5)_______________ (POIGNANCY) is the precise moment at which the armistice came into force: at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month—a time that has since become deeply symbolic of collective reflection upon the (6)_________________ (MEASURE) toll of warfare.

(7)_____________ (INITIAL) designated as Armistice Day, this occasion was established with the explicit purpose of honouring those servicemen and women who had made the ultimate sacrifice during the Great War. Nevertheless, in the wake of the Second World War's unprecedented devastation, coupled with subsequent conflicts that followed, the commemoration was broadened in scope. (8)________________ (CONSEQUENCE), it was renamed Remembrance Day, thereby encompassing all military personnel who have perished in wars and peacekeeping operations throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

(9)________________ (ARGUE) the most iconic emblem associated with Remembrance Day is the scarlet poppy. This (10)_______________ (SYMBOL) can be traced back to the renowned war poem In Flanders Fields, penned in 1915 by Canadian physician and Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae. The poem (11)__________________ (VIVID) depicts the striking image of crimson poppies flourishing amid the graves of fallen soldiers on the Belgian battlefields. In contemporary times, wearing paper poppies affixed to one's clothing during early November has become a (12)________________ (WIDE) gesture of respect and remembrance, serving not merely as decoration but as a visible pledge never to forget those who fell.

Beyond the 11th itself, the United Kingdom observes Remembrance Sunday on the second Sunday of November. This day is marked by both national and community-level ceremonies, which (13)______________ (VARY) include a two-minute silence observed precisely at 11:00 a.m., military parades featuring veterans and current service members, and the ceremonial laying of wreaths at war (14)_____________ (MEMORY). These rituals provide a vital opportunity for the public to contemplate the profound sacrifices made by previous generations whilst (15)_________________ (SIMULTANEITY) underscoring the paramount importance of striving for peace in our present age.

KEY

1. notably

2. commemoration

3. essentially

4. hostilities

5. poignant

6. immeasurable

7. Initially

8. Consequently

9. Arguably

10. symbolism

11. vividly

12. widespread

13. invariably

14. memorials

15. simultaneously

Dialogue on Remembrance Day

Sara: I've been thinking quite a bit about Remembrance Day recently. What strikes me most is how deeply embedded these commemorations are in our national (1)_______________ (CONSCIOUS) . What's your take on why societies feel this need to remember past conflicts?

James: That's a (2)_______________ (FASCINATION) question, actually. I'd argue that, (3)__________________ (FUNDAMENTAL), it's about collective identity—wouldn't you say? Nations tend to define themselves, at least partially, through their shared historical experiences, particularly the traumatic ones. By commemorating these events, we're essentially reinforcing a sense of who we are as a community.

Sara: I couldn't agree more. Though I'd add that there's probably a moral dimension to it as well. Surely it's about ensuring that the sacrifices weren't in vain. If we were to simply forget, it would feel almost (4)________________ (RESPECT) to those who suffered.

James: Absolutely, that's a valid point. Which brings me to something I've been pondering—do you reckon remembrance is primarily about honouring the past, or is it more forward-looking, focused on learning lessons for the future?

Sara: Hmm, that's quite a dilemma, isn't it? I'm inclined to think it should be both, but if I'm being completely honest, I suspect that in practice it leans more heavily towards honouring the past. The ceremonies, the silence, the wreaths—they're all inherently retrospective gestures.

James: I see where you're coming from, though I'm not entirely convinced. Surely the whole point of remembering atrocities is to prevent their recurrence. Otherwise, what would be the purpose beyond mere (5)__________________ (SENTIMENT)?

Sara: Fair enough—you've got a point there. Perhaps I'm being too cynical. Speaking of symbols, what do you already know about the poppy? I'm curious whether you've come across it before.

James: Oh, extensively! Growing up in the UK, you simply can't escape it in November. Every year without fail, people start wearing them, and there are collection boxes everywhere. I must admit, though, I never really questioned why the poppy (6)___________________ (SPECIFIC) until I read that poem—In Flanders Fields. Have you read it?

Sara: I have, yes! It's remarkably poignant, isn't it? The imagery of those vibrant red flowers blooming amidst such devastation is extraordinarily powerful. That's precisely why the poppy became the symbol, I suppose—it represents life emerging from death, hope persisting despite (7)________________ (IMAGINE) horror.

James: Precisely! What's remarkable is how a simple natural phenomenon observed on the battlefields could become such an enduring symbol. It's quite moving, really, when you think about it that way.

Sara: (8)___________________ (DOUBT). Now, here's something I've been grappling with—how do you think we should remember those who died? Through formal ceremonies, education in schools, moments of silence, artistic expressions? What would be most (9)_________________ (MEAN)?

James: Well, I'd say it's not an either-or situation, is it? Ideally, we'd employ a multifaceted approach. Ceremonies provide that public, collective (10)_______________ (ACKNOWLEDGE), which is crucial. However, without education, the younger generations won't truly grasp the context or (11)______________ (SIGNIFY). And art—whether literature, film, or visual art—has this unique capacity to make history emotionally resonant in ways that textbooks simply can't.

Sara: I'm entirely with you on that. Education seems particularly vital, doesn't it? Which leads me to wonder—do you (12)____________ (GENUINE) believe it's important for young people today to learn about wars they never experienced firsthand?

James: Without a shadow of a doubt! I mean, how else can we possibly hope to prevent history from repeating itself? If each generation has to learn these lessons anew through direct experience, we're essentially doomed to (13)_____________ (PERPETUATE) conflict. It's through understanding the past that we develop the wisdom to navigate the future more peacefully.

Sara: That's a (14)____________ (COMPEL) argument. Though I must say, there's a potential pitfall here that concerns me. Don't you think national remembrance events can sometimes veer towards nationalism rather than promoting genuine peace? I've noticed that the narrative can occasionally glorify military power rather than lamenting the tragedy of war.

James: Oh, that's an excellent observation—and frankly, it's one of my concerns as well. It's a delicate balance, isn't it? On the one hand, we want to honour those who served. On the other, we risk (15)_______________ (ROMANTIC) warfare or fostering an 'us versus them' mentality. I suppose it depends largely on how these events are framed and the discourse surrounding them.

Sara: Exactly my thoughts. And here's another dimension to consider—should remembrance focus exclusively on military personnel, or ought we to acknowledge civilians who suffered and died as well? Because let's face it, in modern warfare, civilian casualties often (16)__________________ (NUMBER) military ones.

James: I'm firmly of the opinion that civilians absolutely must be included. To do otherwise would be to present an incomplete, even distorted picture of war's true cost. Wars devastate entire societies—families torn apart, cities reduced to rubble, cultures decimated. If we're genuinely committed to remembering the horror of war, we can't afford to be selective about whose suffering we acknowledge.

Sara: I wholeheartedly agree. It would be fundamentally unjust to (17)____________ (LOOK) their experiences. Perhaps that's something that needs to evolve in our commemorative practices—a more inclusive approach that recognises all victims of conflict, regardless of whether they wore a uniform.

James: Definitely. And perhaps that shift would actually serve the purpose of promoting peace more effectively, as it would emphasise the indiscriminate nature of war's destruction rather than focussing primarily on military heroism.

Sara: That's a really (18)_____________ (SIGHT) way of putting it. I hadn't quite considered it from that angle before, but you've certainly given me food for thought.

KEY

1. consciousness

2. fascinating

3. fundamentally

4. disrespectful

5. sentimentality

6. specifically

7. unimaginable

8. Undoubtedly

9. meaningful

10. acknowledgment

11. significance

12. genuinely

13. perpetual

14. compelling

15. romanticising

16. outnumber

17. overlook

18. insightful

"lest we forget"

The phrase "lest we forget" is a way of saying "so that we don’t forget" or "to prevent us from forgetting."

It’s often used when talking about important, serious, or tragic events, especially those involving sacrifice—for example, wars, soldiers who died, or historical tragedies. The phrase is a reminder to remember the past, learn from it, and honor the people involved.

lest = "for fear that" or "to prevent the possibility that."

lest we forget = "so that we do not forget."

You often see it on war memorials, during Remembrance Day / Veterans Day, or in speeches about history:

"We honor their sacrifice, lest we forget."

It’s meant to remind people that forgetting the past could lead to repeating its mistakes.

"Lest we forget" = Remember, and don’t let this be forgotten.

The phrase originates from Rudyard Kipling's 1897 poem, Recessional, and is frequently used in military and commemorative ceremonies to honor service, remember lives lost, and reflect on the lessons of history.

_______________________________________

"For the Fallen" is a poem written by Laurence Binyon. It was first published in The Times in September 1914.

Over time, the fourth stanza of the poem has been claimed as a tribute to all casualties of war, regardless of state. This selection of the poem is often recited at Remembrance Day.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them

For the Fallen

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