Spot: memorial.

Today is Remembrance Day in Britain and in many countries around the world (though some other countries give it different names, such as Armistice Day).

What are we remembering? Those killed in wars.

In St Albans, a town not far from where I live, there are memorials to commemorate the First World War dead of each few streets.

World War I Street Memorial, Verulam Road, St Albans, England. Photo by Ian Capper

This memorial commemorates the dead of Cross Street, College Street, Queen Street, New England Street, and Verulam Road itself. They're all quite small streets.

 

I'm very much afraid that there will almost certainly be some kind of a memorial near you. Some are small and simple, like the one above, and commemorate many people; some are huge and grand and commemorate only one:

 

This is the Albert Memorial in London.

 

Some are beautiful:

 

Taj Mahal, built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

 

Some are of people hardly remembered at all:

 

Old Church Penallt. Photo by Roy Parkhouse.

 

On this particular Remembrance Day, as well as those killed in wars, I'm going to remember the people of the Philippines.

 

All strength to those living, and all peace to those who have been killed.

 

Word To Use Today: remembrance. This word comes from the Old French remembrer, from the Latin memor, mindful.