LONDON -- People have been sharing photos of themselves with poppies held close to their mouths to mark Armistice Day across the UK.
The day of remembrance, which takes place on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, Nov. 11, sees people stop for two minutes at 11 a.m. to honour those who died in conflict and those still fighting for freedom. The date marks the time in 1918 when gunfire ceased on the Western Front and the First World War ended.
Poppies are worn as a mark of respect and this year the Foreign Legion asked the public to post selfies with a poppy by their mouths on social media.
British celebrities including Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, Alan Sugar and Jools Holland joined in the campaign for a promotional video.
The Royal British Legion and Royal Navy, meanwhile, kicked things off on Twitter.
In a few hours the nation will pause with a #TwoMinuteSilence for #ArmisticeDay. Join us by sharing your poppy pics. pic.twitter.com/54qFzoL83N— Royal British Legion (@PoppyLegion) November 11, 2015
I wear #MyPoppy to remember the ones who fought for our freedom https://t.co/hVG44mQ0ZO #TwoMinuteSilence pic.twitter.com/NQ6ImG5eQ6— Royal Navy (@RoyalNavy) November 11, 2015
Images started flooding in of servicemen and women, and members of the public, offering their own selfies.
I will be observing the #TwoMinuteSilence on #ArmisticeDay @PoppyLegion pic.twitter.com/4Wc0jBHIFy— Susie Rotherforth (@SusieRother) November 10, 2015
I will be observing the #TwoMinuteSilence on #ArmisticeDay @PoppyLegion #NeverForget pic.twitter.com/GpdVhC6odU— Carl (@AirForce_Carl) November 10, 2015
@PoppyLegion Gone but not forgotten Let us remember the fallen and serving heroes #TwoMinuteSilence pic.twitter.com/Us9goCoGqe— ALSKI (@alskisusan1) November 10, 2015
I will be observing the #TwoMinuteSilence on #ArmisticeDay @PoppyLegion #RemembranceDay2015 #LestWeForget pic.twitter.com/2aoPri9C5b— Steve Whitnall (@SteveWhitnall) November 11, 2015
I'll be taking part in the #TwoMinuteSilence tomorrow at 11:00, will you? @PoppyLegion pic.twitter.com/px2BOHMeeF— ✨Megan ✨16 DAYS (@marvellocked) November 10, 2015
@PoppyLegion #TwoMinuteSilence #ArmisticeDay Eden remembers the fallen pic.twitter.com/VN1fKyVxlU— Eden Girls WF (@edengirlsWF) November 10, 2015
@PoppyLegion @HighwaysNEAST #TwoMinuteSilence The control room will be silent. - safety critical incident permitted pic.twitter.com/uFQ3KiSBei— Russ Asquith (@RussAsquith) November 11, 2015
@PoppyLegion I'll be taking part in the #twominutesilence tomorrow in memory of our fallen heroes #ArmisticeDay pic.twitter.com/Fh8hc3Ile3— Louby Lou (@L0ulabella) November 10, 2015
I'll be observing @PoppyLegion #TwoMinuteSilence on 11 Nov from Bight of Benin, 100nm offshore Nigeria #LestWeForget pic.twitter.com/BXcKfnYS9s— Enzers™ (@Paul_Ensell) November 9, 2015