Armstice Day

[manxbiker]

Should armstice day i.e. November 11th be a public holiday when it falls on a week day

[mata hati]

It counts as one in France

[JRB]

And Canada!

[rojash]

I think every weekday should be a holiday

[zimzam]

I agree that it should be a public holiday. Not only that but I do feel that we should have almost two notable days, and the second being in the Summer. (There must be some battle in a summer month that changed history to bring armice day about in the November) The reason I say this is that you look at the depleting proud ex servicemen and consider the weather in November - do we want to kill those brave and courageous few with cold and flu or pneumonia? So few left so if they (and we) want to honour the dead and their comrades then let's have a main ceremony when the weather is kind to them. Keep November for the more hardy but allow those who would probably want to honour their fallen comrades some decent warmer weather months in which to do so.

[derekpara]

Not a bad suggestion, ZimZam, although the Summer heat may affect those on parade.

I have paraded at the Cenotaph for many years now, but not many people know that us veterans are already formed up in columns on Horse Guards Parade soon after 9am and have to remain in formation until about 10.30 when we march onto Whitehall to stand for the service. We then march off along Whitehall onto Parliament Square, down into St James Park and back onto Horse Guards where a member of the Royal family usually takes the salute. It can be quite a long while before the last contingent marches off from the Cenotaph .

The point I am making is that veterans can be standing still for a very long time, which is worse than keeping on the move. This is why most older veterans attend local parades where the waiting and marching times are much shorter.

[Noseyparker]

I think if it was a holiday it would not be taken so seriously. For instance if it falls on a weekday any school I have worked in takes it very seriously with a two minute silence and special assemblies. The students are very interested and the two minute silence is very moving - especially as the worst behaved students seem to stand the tallest and quietest!!