WORDS: Adam Stoner

Remembrance happens all year round but as we head towards Armistice Day on 11 November, the theme will once again loom large in national headlines.

Around the world, countries and communities remember in their own ways, too. Across the Atlantic, Memorial Day (26 May) honours US citizens who died in service, while Veterans Day (11 November) celebrates the service of all military personnel. Parades and ceremonies are held across America, with the most notable occurring at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia where the US President often makes an address, flanked by members of the forces.

In South America, Argentina observes Malvinas Day, also known as the Day of the Veteran (2 April). The name refers to the Falkland Islands, known in Spanish as the Islas Malvinas, and commemorates the 649 Argentinian military personnel who lost their lives during the 74-day occupation in 1982. Malvinas Day follows the typical purpose of many such Remembrance ceremonies, with wreath-laying and speeches, but also has a focus on educating families and young people about conflict and peace.

Remembrance also takes a unique form through ANZAC Day (25 April), named for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps in Oceania. Services begin at dawn with communities gathering in silence to pay tribute. In Muara, Brunei, a service is held on the beach where forces, led by Australia’s 9th Division, landed as part of the campaign to liberate Borneo from the Japanese.

Australian families also play ‘two-up’ on ANZAC Day, a game where two penny coins are flipped off of a paddle-like ‘spinner’ with the goal of getting both coins to land either heads-up or tails-up. It became a popular pastime for soldiers during WW, with pictures of soldiers enjoying games in Ypres, Belgium as far back as 1917.

Perhaps less well-known is Canada’s National Aboriginal Veterans Day (8 November). First commemorated in Winnipeg 30 years ago, the day was created to recognize the unique sacrifice that indigenous Canadian, Inuit and Métis people made, particularly during both World Wars and the Korean War. The ceremonies are deeply rooted in indigenous cultures and traditions. They reflect not only the barriers that indigenous people had to overcome in order to serve their country, but also honour the indigenous people let down by the country they served, facing discrimination when returning home.

Sacred fires, drumming and traditional prayers form the core of the commemorative events. As with so many moments of Remembrance, public and personal, it is both a day about reflecting on the past but also about highlighting ongoing efforts towards reconciliation and recognition.

In Japan, their annual commemoration of the end of World War Two is a day of reflection and mourning for the lives lost during the conflict. Ceremonies at Hiroshima and Nagasaki are poignant reminders of the devastating impact of war and the enduring hope for peace.

Near Windhoek, the capital city of Namibia, exists Heroes’ Acre. It’s a grand-looking monument – a tall, obelisk structure – situated 10 kilometres south of the city with sprawling gardens and bronze statues. The site is one of active Remembrance, with people being interred there on a rolling basis.

In the same way that The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier acts as a focal point for celebrations in the US – something mirrored across similar memorial sites around the world, including our own Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey – Heroes’ Acre serves the same purpose. Namibians go on something of a pilgrimage to pay their respects and reflect on their national history.

Every country has its own way of commemorating its veterans, with the underlying theme always being one of respect and gratitude. These traditions connect us all. Remembrance is about the mourning of loss but is also a celebration of human life and the freedoms that past sacrifices now afford us.