WHO DO YOU REMEMBER DURING A MINUTE'S SILENCE?
IN the lead-up to Remembrance Day, Australians are being encouraged to take a moment to reflect on who they will be thinking about during the minute's silence at 11am on 11 November and share it using the hashtag, #1MS (1 Minute's Silence).
As part of promoting #1MS, Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC Darren Chester joined well-known Australians in expressing why they stop for a minute, including Cate and Bronte Campbell, Johnathan Thurston, Dan Sultan, Les Hill, Curtis McGrath and Bree Bailie, a current serving member of the Australian Defence Force.
"Remembrance Day is special to Australians, young and old, for many different reasons and sharing the stories is incredibly important," Mr Chester said.
"I have been privileged in my role to attend several commemorative services and listen to the stories of veterans and family members, including who they are commemorating and what they think about during the minute's silence.
"Many Australians have an ancestor or relative who has served or died in wars, conflicts and on peacekeeping operations and it is this deep personal connection that they remember.
"Others don't have this personal connection, but stand in silent gratitude to those who sacrificed so much for our nation over the last century."
This Remembrance Day marks the centenary of the First World War Armistice — the day the guns on the Western Front fell silent and the greatest war the modern world had ever seen was all but over.
"While this year marks this significant milestone, as a nation we need to ensure the custom of observing a minute of silence continues now and in to the future," Mr Chester said.
"Remembrance Day is a time for us as a nation to unite in a minute of solemn respect and admiration for those who served and died in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.
"I strongly encourage all Australians to really think about why they pause on Remembrance Day, to attend their local Remembrance Day services and to stop for a minute's silence."
