Do you remember sitting in school assemblies and listening to stories of the people who fought in The Great War and World War II and hearing about the importance of Remembrance Day?
To a child in the 1970s, the battles of the soldiers that fought in both wars seemed light-years away, wrapped up in history in a time that belonged to the "olden days". Yet, World War II ended only 23 years before I was born.
To highlight the relevance of this timescale, think back to where you were 23 years ago today...in 1984. I bet it doesn't seem that long ago, whether you were watching Postman Pat on TV as a child, following Duran Duran as a teenager or enjoying your independence at the start of your career.
It is only recently that the relative proximity of my childhood to the end of the second world war really occured to me. Many of my teachers will have lived through the war and were probably enlisted. I realise now how I took for granted their accounts of their experiences as well as those of my grandparents. It is also incredible to think that rationing actually ended only 15 years before I was born.
Here in the 21st century the importance of Remembrance Day is as relevant to our society as it has always been. However with an aging population and war veterans becoming fewer in number as each year passes, it is a natural consequence that today's children are at risk of becoming more detached than my generation. What should not be forgotten though is that today is not just about remembering those who have fought and died for their country in the past, but those who have fought in action and are still representing our country in modern times. Whether we are remembering the veterans of the Falklands or those who are currently in the Gulf, it is important that the significance of Remembrance Day is never lost.
The Royal British Legion works hard on its Poppy Appeal so that it can support ex-servicemen and their dependents, providing financial, social and emotional support where needed and it is interesting to see how its work has been brought right into the 21st Century, which is a must for promoting the cause to the younger generations that are learning about the history of wars and our country's traditions.
Did you know that you can now send poppies to your friends on Facebook and that if you have a "Second Life" account, there is the opportunity to share the Remembrance Day experience at a virtual cenotaph. You can even download Poppy wallpaper for your mobile phone.
The Royal British Legion has also recently launched a blog, highlighting the adventures of the Poppyman. If you'd like to see what he's been up to (and it is worth a look), hop over to http://whereispoppyman.blogspot.com/
And on that note, I'll leave you to his adventures and to your own Remembrance Day.
Pictures courtesy of The Royal British Legion
