Remembrance Sunday Today:

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Today is Remembrance Sunday 2013:

Remembrance Sunday is the second Sunday in November, the Sunday nearest to the 11th November (Armistice Day), which marks the anniversary of the end of the First World War in 1918.

In the UK, Remembrance Sunday is marked by ceremonies at local war memorials in most cities, towns and villages, attended by civic dignitaries, ex-servicemen and women, members of local armed forces (both regular and reserve units), youth organisations (e.g. Scouts and Guides), and military cadet forces. Wreaths of poppies are laid on the memorials and two minutes' silence is held at 11am. The silence represents the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918, when the guns of Europe fell silent. Church bells are usually rung "half-muffled", to create a solemn tone.

In the UK, the national Remembrance Day ceremony is held at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in London and, since 2005, also at the Women's Memorial. Wreaths are laid by members of the Royal Family, the Prime Minister, leaders of major political parties, the Foreign Secretary, the Commonwealth High Commissioners and representatives from the Armed Forces, as well as representatives from the Merchant Navy, fishing fleets and the civilian services.

Dates for Remembrance Sunday:

Remembrance Sunday 2012 – 11th November (Today)

Remembrance Sunday 2013 – 10th November

Remembrance Sunday 2014 – 9th November

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The Cenotaph is enclosed in a square formed by detachments from branches of the Fighting Services, a contingent from civilian services vital in time of war and by a large body of ex-service men and women. Wreaths are laid by the Queen, and other Royal Family members, the Prime Minister, leaders of major political parties, the Foreign Secretary, the Commonwealth High Commissioners and representatives from the Army, Navy, Royal Air Force, Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets and the Civilian Services. A two minute silence is held at 1100hrs. This silence is marked by the firing of a field gun on Horse Guards Parade to begin and end the silence, followed by buglers sounding The Last Post.

The Cenotaph was first prepared as a temporary wood and plaster structure for use as a saluting base in Whitehall during the First World War Victory Parade, held on the 19th July 1919. The immediate and overwhelming public acclaim for this hurriedly prepared design of Edwin Lutyens afforded the Government a ready solution to the potential problem of providing a suitable national memorial to the war dead. A swift decision was taken to re-erect the Cenotaph in a permanent form on the same site.

The unveiling of the stone structure on the 11th November 1920 was combined with a ceremony to mark the passing of the body of the Unknown Warrior for re-burial in Westminster Abbey.

The first of the annual ceremonies of remembrance took place at the Cenotaph on the same date the following year.The Household Cavalry and one of the Foot Guards Battalions provide a small dismounted marching contingent. The Household Cavalry leads the three Services on to parade.

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