The Royal British Legion believes that the poppy and Remembrance are, and always have been, unifiers of all people and communities across Britain and the Commonwealth since the First World War, supporting 
and recognising the contributions of the Armed Forces from these nations in times of conflict and rebuilding 
society.

We have remembered this contribution to the freedoms we enjoy today for over a century and will continue to do so through our work to support our Armed Forces community by ensuring that they feel that their service and sacrifice is valued and recognised by society.

We recognise the service and sacrifice of:

• all those who have served or are serving in His Majesty's British Armed Forces, including members of the Commonwealth in the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force, from 1914 to the present day. This includes both living and deceased personnel, regardless of the length of their service. 
• civilian individuals, communities, services, and organisations from Britain and the Commonwealth during times of conflict or acts of terror. We are committed to acknowledging their contributions in Remembrance, such as the support of emergency services and the Merchant Navy. 
• the families of British and Commonwealth Armed Forces personnel; this includes those who have been bereaved.

The Two Minute Silence is a time for the nation to honour the sacrifices of those who have served in the British and Commonwealth Armed Forces. While formally observed on Remembrance Sunday (second Sunday in November) and Armistice Day (11 November) a Two Minute Silence allows time for personal reflection and remembrance all year round, whether observed publicly or privately. While participation is voluntary, it's important to respect those who choose to pause and reflect.