We mark it for reason that are as much about our contribution in the wider Scouting community for what scouts and former scouts contributed, our losses as paying our respects for those who died fighting for our freedoms and liberties in our country and beyond.
We will remember those who give their lives and those while surviving carried the cost.
Transmitting that message from one generation to another is pricelesss.
Pix credit: Staffordshire Evening Sentinel.
We in scouts think of what the wider scout family did from helping out at home running much need services to those who served in the military, those men and women who sadly did not come back and to that end we talk about that in our meetings.
There will be parades on Sunday, which I attended as a youngster and obviously later on where we pay our respects.
Do attend if at all possible.
Having seen off Guy fawkes night and Halloween, we move to one the biggets most important days in the scouting calendar, Remembrance Day, when we think about those who give their all to keep us free and to save lives during war and other conflicts.
We sometimes forget upon the end of any conflict however big or small, it is not a matter simply of the living and the dead; The living have injuries that are not even physical in nature.
Physical, mental or emotional injury or trauma; the absence of time with loved ones; or the pressures that come from serving, highlight why the Remembrance of service is so important. This year in Scouting we mark significant anniversaries united by the theme of 'Service'
Remembrance Sunday for Scouts isn’t about marching like soldiers or glorifying war. It’s about representing fellow Scouts who ‘did their best’ in frightening and dangerous circumstances for the sake of their community and their country.
Last year, one lonely placard, waving above the heads of the crowd, read ‘The Young Are Grateful’ and let's not forget what scouts did "at home" helping out when out towns and cities were being bombed night after night assisting the emergency services, taking messages, guiding them to the quickest routes, saving lives.
That is what we are reflecting upon.
Yesterday was Remembrance Sunday which for me always started the day before polishing up ones shoes and then getting permission to stay up to watch the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance on the Saturday seeing the different arms of the Services and hearing inspiring stories and poignant reminders of the sacrifice given.
It was also something to see them all in full highly polished uniform.
Parades on Remembrance Sunday are etched into my memories, marching with the local Scout Group from the community hall to the church for the afternoon service.
In The U.K. apart from providing advice and support for those who have left the armed services, the Royal British Legion is front and centre of the transmission of what that act of sacrifice meant - the loss of lives, the injuries sustained and its impact together with the freedom that was preserved at that cost so they work with the Scouts Association who provided support during both World Wars at home and in the Field too in teaching this to children and young adults.
Shown is this years badge set.
For reasons probably more connected around convenience since W.W.2. in this country more store by way of acts of Remembrance has been given to Remembrance Sunday which will be in two days time where Scouts and Girl Guides will parade, lay down their Standards and present their wreath at the local cenotaph
This Sunday was Remembrance Sunday where would parade to the cenotaph in our area and the wreath would be placed by the person chosen to represent your local unit in order with all the other official wreathes such as those by the Royal British Legion and the local authority normally by the mayor.
We pay our respects not just in honour of those who died for our freedom but also in recognition of scouts contributions as some saw active service and many more helped the war effort by passing on messages, identifying enemy aircraft, helping with casualties at home, assembling air raid shelters and so on
There are badges available such as the one below, a special neckerchief and other things for scouts connected with this important act.
This year with the changed circumstances the Scouting Association amongst others have been doing things to engage with members such as Sowing a Poppy, Sowing Poppy Wreath from felt or making a Paracord poppy which is one way to show your craft skills while marking Remembrance together.
There are also opportunities to learn about The Unknown Soldier who plays a big part in how we mark Remembrance, test your Semaphore skills and hold a Remembrance reflection, thinking about it means.
Like V.E. Day which I wrote about there is also an opportunity to guess the WW2 era Scout Badges exploring how Scouts used their skills to help communities during the second world war.
These can be done online, indoors or outdoors with social distancing indicated and necessary to keep everybody safe.
We don't publish at the weekend so this is the nearest to the day.
In normal times a highlight for many of us is the service usually held in a church for Remembrance Day
It is an honour to attend.
These Scouts are from Crewe, Cheshire including on the left the Sea Cadets
The names of the dead in your area are read, the horn sounded and our representative lays the wreath
We may not be able to be there doing it this year but we can and will mark it because Remembrance matters on Sunday the Eighth of November.
