ARMISTICE DAY,POPPY DAY AND ARMED FORCES FLAG DAY :Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Dear Veterans ,

Regards. The following article is posted for your knowledge,please.

ARMISTICE DAY, POPPY DAY AND ARMED FORCES FLAG DAY

After the cessation of World War I, the miseries of innumerable deaths and

incalculable destruction of properties also came to an end. Relieved of the

hardships endured for years through the war, people decided to celebrate the

end of the horrific war. Thus they came up with the idea of ‘Armistice Day’

which was to be celebrated on the 11 November each year all over the word.

The word Armistice, derived from Latin

means truce or stoppage of war.

Legend has it that around Armistice day people noticed a large number of

poppy plants with blooming flowers over the burial grounds of the soldiers

who had laid down their lives during the war. Hence, the day was also called

‘Poppy Day’. On this day token paper poppies were sold to the public and the

amount so collected was used for the welfare of the war veterans and thei

families.

After Independence the Defence Committee of the Cabinet took a landmark

decision on 28 August 1949 to observe (instead of celebrate)

Armed Forces Flag Day (instead of Poppy Day) on 07 December each year

(instead of 11 November) each year. From then onwards 7 December is being

observed as the Armed Forces Flag Day inour country. Thus Armed Forces

Flag Day is supposed to be an old and honoured annual feature of our

National life for the past sixty years while the Armistice Day is being

celebrated as usual in many countries on 11 November.

The Cabinet Committee with far sighted vision unambiguously enunciated

the three most important aspects which signified the observance of the

Armed Forces Flag Day.

They are:-

· To honour the valiant dead.
· To salute the veteran brave.
· To renew the pledge with all the personnel in active service of the

Armed Forces of India.

The Cabinet Committee had the great vision to encompass all the three

categories of Armed Forces Personnel in their enunciation viz., those who

had made the Supreme Sacrifice of their lives yesterday for the sake of

our today; the living veterans who hadbraved the inhospitable conditions

of the deserts, glaciers, air and seas for 24 X 7 throughout the year so as to

enable the countrymen to sleep comfortably in their homes; and the

present day men and women in uniform who continue to do what their

predecessors had done for years with greater grit and determination for

the sake of the Nation even at the peril of their lives.

It is not known how this Armed Forces Flag Day was observed in the early

period following the decision to switch from Armistice Day to the Armed

Forces Flag Day. One can confidently believe that the observance of the

annual feature could have been true to the letter and spirit. Especially,

it must have been so after three wars in quick succession in the sixties

and early seventies.

Against this backdrop, sixty years into our Independence it would be most

pertinent to ponder over the following in the present day context:

· How are the valiant dead honoured?
· How are the disabled and the retired elders of the Armed Forces and

their families treated by the people of our country, particularly those

who have the responsibility to look after them?
· How does the nation stand by those who maintain eternal vigil to

safeguard the integrity of our Nation, regardless of their personal

safety?

Slowly but surely, people are becoming alive to this reality. The reality.

The stark truths are no less for being unpalatable. it would require an

audacious break with the immediate past or an extraordinary paradigm

changing event to alter the reality of today.

Finally, it is not important who advocates particular views. What is

important is to ascertain how far the views are true and relevant to the

context and who stands to gain from such views, proposals and measures.

Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

President,

Indian Ex-Services League , Punjab 7 Chandigarh.

Mob.098554-09128, Tele-Fax 0175-5000896.