Ahead of the 90th anniversary of the end of the First World War, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Alan Griffin encouraged Australians to observe Remembrance Day with a minute’s silence to pay respect to those who died and suffered in wars, conflicts and peace operations. Mr Griffin said this Remembrance Day was especially significant as it will mark 90 years since the guns fell silent on the Western Front on 11 November, 1918––bringing the “war to end all wars” to an end.
“At 11 am on 11 November, I encourage all Australians wherever they are, to pause for one minute’s silence,” Mr Griffin said. “It is a time to remember all those who have served their country, particularly the more than 102,000 Australian servicemen and women who died in wars and conflicts, including some
61,000 in the First World War on the Western Front, at Gallipoli and in the Middle East. Pausing for one minute of our day, to remember those who did not return home to loved ones and friends, is a small gesture to honour their sacrifice.”
Australians have served in many conflicts, including the Boer War, First and Second World Wars, Korean War, Malayan Emergency, Indonesian Confrontation and Vietnam War, and more recently in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as on peace operations around the world since 1947. “Remembrance Day is an important time for us to pay tribute to the service and sacrifice these Australians made in ensuring our safety and defending our freedom,” Mr Griffin said.
“On 11 November I will be wearing a red poppy to commemorate those who lost their lives in wars and conflicts. I encourage Australians to buy one from their local RSL and do the same. Red Flanders poppies were a common sight on the battlefields of the Western Front, the first plants to grow after the devastation of fighting. By wearing a poppy we honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice.”