7 Ways to Commemorate Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day, or Armistice Day, offers an opportunity to pause, reflect and honour the service and sacrifice of the Armed Forces community. You don’t need a military background or a family connection to take part. From attending a local service to reflecting at home, you can choose an approach that feels meaningful to you.
Whether you have family links with personnel from WWI or WWII, are a current Armed Forces member or simply want to honour the day, here are some different ways you can commemorate.
1. Wear a poppy
Wearing a poppy is a popular way to show remembrance and to take a moment to reflect on those who have served. You might choose to wear one when attending a service or going about your day, using it as a personal reminder to pause. Taking part is a personal choice, and wearing a poppy isn’t the only way to commemorate.
2. Attend a remembrance Sunday service
Attending a local service can be an opportunity to come together with your community and celebrate as a group. Remembrance Sunday falls on the second Sunday in November, while Armistice Day is always marked on 11 November.
Check your local council or event organiser’s listings for the location, timings and accessibility arrangements. If attending in person isn’t possible, you could watch a service on TV or look for an online broadcast.
3. Take part in the two-minute silence
A two-minute silence takes place at 11am on both Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday. You can take part at home, at work or as part of a public commemoration. If you would like to join in, set aside the time and pause what you are doing if it is safe to do so. You might reflect on a relative, a story you have read or the wider impact of conflict.
4. Discover the stories of veterans or share family stories
Learning about individual experiences can help you connect with the people behind historical events. Explore museum collections and recorded accounts or ask relatives whether there are memories they would like to share. You could collect photographs, letters and recollections together in a small album to keep those stories for the future.
If it’s appropriate, consider sharing these memories online through social media, family history websites or community groups, helping to preserve personal stories and connect with others who may have similar experiences.
If you don’t have a family connection, Imperial War Museums’ Lives of the First World War offers personal stories to explore.
5. Take part in a Remembrance Day fundraising event
If you would like to support a charity alongside commemorating, consider joining an established fundraising event or organising a small activity of your own. A coffee morning, bake sale, sponsored walk, book sale or history-themed quiz could bring people together for a great cause.
Choose the charity you want to support, check its fundraising guidance before making arrangements and explain where donations will go.
If organising an event isn’t for you, you could help promote an existing fundraiser instead.
6. Visit a local war memorial
Visiting a local war memorial offers a quieter way to commemorate, either on your own or with someone else. Take time to read the names and inscriptions and consider the lives they represent.
You could choose a name to research through local archives or historical collections, helping you learn more about your community’s connections to the past. Check access arrangements before visiting and respect any ceremonies that are taking place.
7. Create a personal act of remembrance
You don’t have to attend a public event to mark remembrance. At home, you could put together a small display of family photographs, write a personal reflection or set aside time to read a letter or account of someone’s experiences.
Choose something that gives you space to reflect, whether that is a shared activity or a private moment. Remembrance can also continue beyond November through learning about and preserving these stories throughout the year.