On November 11th in 1918, the armistice, or truce that ended the First World War was signed. It was signed on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. In remembrance of this, we observe two minutes of silence to all those who sacrificed their lives. The poem In Flanders Fields came to symbolize the sacrifices of all who were fighting in the First World War. In part because of the poem's popularity, the poppy was adopted as the Flower of Remembrance for the war dead of Britain, France, Canada, United States, and other  countries.  Here is a reading of "In Flanders Fields" which was originally published in England's Punch magazine in December, 1915. [110kb]