Remembrance Day Speech 2014 by Tessa Venoutsos and Daniyela Reeday

Remembrance Day Speech 2014 by Tessa Venoutsos and Daniyela Reeday Remembrance Day is observed on 11 November to recall the end of hostilities of World War 1 on that date in 1918. Hostilities formally ended on "the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month."

At 11am on November 11 1918, the guns on the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of continuous warfare. The allied armies had driven the German invaders back, having inflicted heavy defeats upon them over preceding four years.

In Australia and other allied countries, including New Zealand, Canada and the United States, 11th November became known as Armistice Day- a day to remember those who died in World War One. The day continues to be commemorated in allied countries.

In 1997, Governor-General Sir William Deane issued a proclamation formally declaring 11 November to be Remembrance Day, urging all Australians to observe one minutes silence at 11.00am on 11 November each year, to remember those who died or suffered for Australia's cause in all wars and armed conflicts.

We also honor the Unknown Soldier on Remembrance Day. On the second anniversary of Remembrance Day on 11 November 1920, the commemoration was given added significance when it became a funeral, with the return of the remains of the Unknown Soldier from the battlefields of the Western Front.

Red poppies are a symbol because they were one of the first flowers to grow on the battlefields in northern France after world war one. The red is important because it symbolises the blood of the soldiers that died.

More than 416 000 Australians volunteered for service in World War I. Of these, 324 000 served overseas. More than 60 000 Australians were killed, including 45 000 who died on the Western Front in France and Belgium and more than 8 000 who died on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey.

As well as Australian soldiers, many nurses in the Australian Army Nursing Service served on the Western Front. These nurses worked in overcrowded hospitals for up to 16 hours a day, looking after soldiers with shocking injuries and burns.

We have one minutes silence at 11am on the 11th of November because that was the time when World War One ended after four years of continuous fighting.

On this day we also commemorate the soldiers who have fought for Australia in wars such as the First World War, the Second World War, as well as wars in Korea, Malaysia, Borneo and Vietnam. Today, Australian soldiers continue to fight in such conflicts such as the Afghanistan war and Iraq war. Can everyone join us, up standing for 1 minute of silence to commemorate the fallen soldiers.

Lest we forget.