RAF MILDENHALL, England -- Remembrance Day ceremonies are scheduled in almost every town in the U.K. Nov. 11, and visiting forces are invited to join their neighbors to remember those who have given their lives while serving their country.
Each year, on the second Sunday of November, U.K. citizens pay homage to those who died in the two world wars.
The day was originally named Armistice Day after World War I, which ended at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. The day was changed to Remembrance Day after World War II to honor all of the men and women who serve.
The poppy was chosen as the symbol of remembrance because many British soldiers lost their lives in the poppy fields of Flanders, Belgium, during WWI. Many people display or wear poppies as a sign of their remembrance.
Note to service members: Service members attending local Remembrance Day ceremonies as part of a marching contingency will be in service dress uniform. Service dress is optional for U.S. service members who attend a ceremony but are not part of a marching contingency. Poppies are not authorized on the uniforms of Airmen in formation.
The following is a list of ceremonies in the local area that are open to the public:
Nov. 10, 2012 -
10:30 a.m. - Wreath laying at the war memorial in West Row
11 a.m. - Wreath laying at the war memorial in Kenny Hill
2:30 p.m. - Wreath laying in Bury St. Edmunds at the 94th Bomb Group and Dunkirk Memorials
Nov. 11, 2012 -
9:45 a.m. - Wreath laying, church service and parade in Mildenhall village
10 a.m. - Wreath laying and church service in Dickleburg and Thorpe Abbots
10 a.m. - Parade from St. Mary's Green, church service at Ely Cathedral and wreath laying at the war memorial in Ely
10 a.m. - Church service, parade from St. Christopher's School to Millennium Centre followed by wreath laying in Red Lodge
10:15 a.m. - Civic procession, wreath laying at Angel Hill, church service and reception in Bury St. Edmunds.
10:20 a.m. - Parade to Market Place, service and wreath laying at war memorial in Thetford
10:30 a.m. - Service and wreath laying at the chapel in Wymondham
10:30 a.m. - Wreath laying at war memorial in Beck Row
10:45 a.m. - Wreath laying at War Graves Memorial at rear of St. John's Church in Beck Row
11 a.m. - Church service in St. John's Church in Beck Row
11:50 a.m. - Wreath laying at RAF cemetery in Newmarket
12:15 p.m. - Wreath laying at 99 Squadron Memorial Rowley Mile Racecourse in Newmarket
1:50 p.m. - Wreath laying at the war memorial and a church service at Tattersalls in Newmarket
2 p.m. - Parade, church service and wreath laying at British and American memorials in Sudbury
2:10 p.m. - Parade, dedication of a war memorial and wreath laying in Soham
3 p.m. - Wreath laying in the Barrack Square in Martlesham Heath
3 p.m. - Remembrance service and wreath laying in Bridgham