President John Atta Mills on Wednesday led the nation to honour Ghana's war dead at this year's Remembrance Day which took place at the entrance of the Christianborg War Cemetery at Osu in Accra. The ceremony, also known as Poppy Day or Veterans' Day, is observed on November 11 to commemorate the sacrifices of members of the armed forces and civilians in times of war, specifically since the First World War. It is observed on November 11 to recall the end of World War I on that date in 1918 as major hostilities of World War I formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 with the signing of the Armistice. Ghana, then the Gold Coast and part of the British Empire, also sent her sons overseas in this war and some lost their lives. "It is for this that we pause to remember the sacrifice of those men and women who have died or suffered in wars and conflicts and all those who served during the past 100 years, at the eleventh hour of the day, on the eleventh day of the month and in the eleventh month of the year," the programme outline from the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) explained. Biblical and Koranic words of comfort were read, in addition to Christian and Muslim prayers for the repose of the departed heroes. Thereafter, there was the call to remembrance and the sounding of the knell and the farewell call. The siren was then blown, after which the Binyon Verse, a commemorative poem for the war dead, was read by Ex-Warrant Officer Class One Akumina Ofoe Quarmyne. A contingent of Ghana's gallant ex-servicemen in old and plain military khaki uniforms, with their peps and colours, marched past the presidential dais, as they saluted the President and took reserved seats. Major Kofi Debrah was the Parade Commander and Warrant Officer Class One Danquah Nicholas was the Parade Regimental Sergeant Major. The veterans and other attendees hummed as buglers blew their instruments to sound the elegies. A two-minute silence sandwiched the last post and the reveille. The GAF brochure explained:"After World War II, the Armistice Day was renamed Remembrance Day to remember those who were killed in both World Wars and instituted as National Remembrance Day "Today, many countries have recognised the day not only the sacrifices of those who fell in the two World Wars, but also those who have died in subsequent conflicts around the world, including those who were deployed on peace-keeping duties." The central element of the Remembrance Day ceremony is a two-minute silence sounded by siren at the 11th hour, during which all movements should cease, so that in perfect stillness, the thought of everyone may be concentrated on the revered remembrance of the dead. Also during the period towards Remembrance Day, artificial poppies are worn for peacekeepers who have died in the course of duty around the world. Poppies are sold as a means of raising funds to support veterans, especially the disabled and hospitalised. President Mills, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, wearing a blue-black coat on white shirt, red tie and artificial poppy on the right lapel of the coat, and a pair of black shoes to match, laid a wreath on behalf of the Government and people of Ghana. Other wreaths were laid by the British High Commissioner in Ghana, Dr Nicholas Westcott, for the Commonwealth and Allied countries, Mr Jean Gbikpi-Benissan, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps on behalf of the Diplomatic Community, Major General Peter Augustine Blay, Chief of Defence Staff, on behalf of the Security Services, Air Vice Marshall Odartey Barnor (RTD), Chairman of the Veterans Association of Ghana on behalf of the Association and Nii Okaija III, Gbese Mantse, a traditional ruler. Those who attended this year's ceremony included the Inspector General of Police, Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, top Government officials, Service Commanders, Ministers of State, traditional rulers of the Ga State, Members of the Diplomatic Corps as well as both retired and serving officers and men of the Ghana Armed Forces. President Mills later signed the Remembrance Book. Source: GNA