This post was written by 3 Year 6 pupils – Anaiya Patel, Muhammad Behany and Inshirah Khodai – regarding their experiences on 11th November 2016 at a Remembrance Day Service.
We will remember them….
On Friday 11th November, we were invited to attend a Remembrance Day Service with a number of other schools across Milton Keynes. This was a once in a lifetime experience for me and the day was filled with many exciting activities. We paraded down the street led by the Bagpipes Legion and members of the army. As we reached the end of the parade and arrived at the memorial, I thought to myself, ‘I am really honoured to be here and remember the men and women who sacrificed their lives for our benefit.
A horn/trumpet played ‘The Last Post’ and a lady gave us a speech about the soldiers who fought in World War 2. Then, we had a 2 minute silence to remember them. Another school read a poem to everyone called, ‘The inquisitive mind of a child.’
Pearl-white doves (doves are the symbol of peace) were released in the air, and fluttered above our heads. The time had come to lay our poppy wreath on the memorial. We felt quite sad and serious and the atmosphere was very sombre.
As the doves towered high above us, remembrance crosses, with a single poppy attached to them, were handed out to us. Clenching these symbols of remembrance in our palms, we were required to order ourselves into rows for a photograph. However, with 600 children to organise, this was easier said than done! We got there in the end, just in time for someone to come out with a camera – ‘Cheeeese!’
We were then thanked for attending and made aware that there were refreshments inside the church. Miss Courtney, Miss Gilders and the rest of us headed inside (with no second thoughts!). Inside, we discovered that there were some beautiful poppy seed cupcakes with grey butterscotch icing, topped with a large, sugary poppy on top, and some squash to drink.
Walking back to the car, we thought about how brave the soldiers must have been to give up their lives so that we could have ours. I now fully understand why its important to remember all those involved in conflict across the world, both from the past and in the present. I know what is really behind that poppy on your chest.
