UK: World War I Centenary

Leanne, our London Program Advisor, recently sent out a message to our students and staff about this beautiful commemoration done in a way unlike any other. Read on below.

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Oil Scariff via Getty Images

Last night [Monday] between the hours of 10 PM and 11 PM, lights went out all over London and the UK to commemorate 100 years since the moment that World War I was declared in Britain.

To see some pictures and read more about the moving memorial, check out this article from the Daily Mail.

You may notice other events and commemorations taking place during your time in the UK, such as this art installation at the Tower of London: 

The poppy (the ones shown here are ceramic) is a symbol of remembrance in honor of soldiers who gave their lives in battle. You’ll notice people wearing a silk poppy pinned to their clothes for November 11, Memorial Day in the UK. The tradition comes from a poem by Canadian WWI soldier John McCrae called “In Flanders Fields.”

World War I, also called the Great War, holds a powerful place in British culture and memory, even today – perhaps more so than in your home country. For more information about the WWI centenary and commemorations happening across the world, check out this website. 

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USAC