On November 11 at 11 a.m., Remembrance Day asks each of us for two minutes of silence. Two minutes to set everything down and honor the men and women who served, and those who never came home. As The People’s Psychic, I spend my life tuning into what most people never stop long enough to notice, and I can tell you that those two minutes hold more meaning than we often give them credit for. This year, I want to share where this day comes from, what “thank you for your service” truly means, and why staying in gratitude matters now more than ever.
The Eleventh Hour
The First World War ended with a signature. At 5 a.m. on November 11, 1918, the Armistice was signed in a railway carriage in France, with the ceasefire set to take effect at 11 a.m. The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
The war was over on paper, yet the fighting continued for six more hours. Canadian Private George Lawrence Price was killed near Mons, Belgium, at 10:58 a.m., just two minutes before the guns fell silent. I find it deeply moving that the two minutes we give in silence each year mirror the two minutes he did not live to see.
Canada first marked the day in 1919 as Armistice Day, and for more than a decade it was observed on a Monday in November alongside Thanksgiving. Veterans asked for a day of its own, and in 1931 Parliament fixed the date permanently to November 11 and named it Remembrance Day. Today it honors the more than 118,000 Canadians who died in military service, and every person who served, came home, and carried that experience quietly for the rest of their lives.
The Meaning Behind the Poppy
In May 1915, Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, a Canadian doctor serving near Ypres, Belgium, wrote a poem after losing a close friend in battle. Its opening lines have stayed with generations: “In Flanders fields the poppies blow / Between the crosses, row on row.” The red poppies growing in fields torn apart by war became a symbol the world would never forget.
Canada adopted the poppy as its flower of remembrance in 1921, and Canadians have worn it every November since. The Royal Canadian Legion, which marks its 100th anniversary this year, leads the poppy campaign, and every donation supports veterans and their families. This year, the campaign runs from October 24 through November 11. Wearing one is a small act that carries a great deal of respect.
What “Thank You for Your Service” Truly Means
We hear these words often, and because of that, they can lose their weight. When they’re spoken with intention, they carry something profound.
To thank someone for their service is to acknowledge what they gave that we may never fully see. Birthdays and holidays spent far from home. Children who grew up while they were away. Their sense of safety and peace of mind. For far too many, their lives. Service extends beyond the battlefield, too. It includes the peacekeeper, the reservist who left a career to answer a call, and the family at home holding everything together in their absence.
Freedom is the gift we unwrap every morning without ever reading the card.
A sincere thank you is the moment we finally read it.
The Freedom We Live Inside Every Day
Most of us make countless free choices before the day is half over. What we say, where we go, who we love, and what we believe. Because it has always been this way for us, it rarely registers as a privilege.
That is exactly why remembrance matters. Gratitude has a way of returning sacredness to ordinary life. In my practice, I’ve seen how a shift in energy can change the course of a person’s life, and gratitude may be one of the most powerful ways to create that shift. It moves us away from what we lack and toward what we have already been given, often at a cost paid by someone else.
A Changing World Calls Us to Remember
The generation who served in the Second World War is nearly gone. With each passing November, fewer people remain who can say, “I was there.” As those voices fall silent, the responsibility of remembering rests with us.
The world also feels unsettled. Conflict reaches us daily through the news. Divisions run deep. Information moves so quickly that the past can begin to feel distant and irrelevant. Remembrance asks us to pause and recognize that peace has never been guaranteed. It was built, defended, and paid for, and it depends on each generation choosing to value it.
Why Gratitude Must Be a Daily Practice
Gratitude isn’t meant to be reserved for one day in November. It’s a practice, and it grows stronger the more faithfully we return to it.
When we live in gratitude, our energy may become calmer and more grounded. Fear holds less influence. We often become more patient, more present, and more connected to something greater than our own concerns. Staying in gratitude doesn’t mean ignoring the hardship in the world. It means refusing to let hardship eclipse the good that still exists.
I hold a simple spiritual truth close in my practice: what we honor, we strengthen. When we honor sacrifice, we strengthen our commitment to peace. When we honor those who came before us, we keep their energy alive in the world.
Your Thank You Is Never Too Late
Over 34 years and more than 24,000 readings, I’ve connected people with their loved ones on the other side, and that includes the grandfathers, grandmothers, fathers, and mothers who once wore a uniform. Love does not end at the veil, and neither does gratitude.
Many families have someone who served and rarely, if ever, spoke of it. Some came home changed and carried their experiences in silence. If that is part of your family’s story, the thank you you never had the chance to say may not be too late. Speak it on November 11, whether at a cenotaph, in your home, or quietly to yourself during the silence. Energy has no boundaries, and I believe they may hear you.
Honoring Remembrance Day
Meaningful remembrance doesn’t require a grand gesture. Wear a poppy over your heart. Observe the two minutes of silence at 11 a.m., wherever you are. Attend a ceremony at your local cenotaph, whether you’re here in Woodstock, Ontario or anywhere else in the world. Ask the elders in your family about those who served, and record their stories before they are lost. And if you know a veteran, thank them sincerely and take the time to listen.
For readers outside Canada, the spirit of this day is shared. The United States observes Veterans Day on the same date, France and Belgium continue to mark Armistice Day, and the United Kingdom holds Remembrance Sunday. The names differ, but the gratitude is the same.
Who Are You Remembering?
Who in your family served, and what would you say to them today if you could? I invite you to share their name in the comments so we can honor them together.
If you feel called to connect with a loved one in spirit, including someone who served, I have the ability to connect with you no matter where you are in the world. You don’t have to tell me what’s going on. I’ll tell you what I’m picking up. Sessions are available by Zoom, phone, or in person in Woodstock, and you can book at lewismabee.com/book-appointment.
Lest we forget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Remembrance Day observed on November 11 at 11 a.m.?
It marks the moment the Armistice ending the First World War took effect in 1918. Canada established November 11 as the permanent date in 1931, and the two minutes of silence at 11 a.m. honor that moment each year.
Why do people wear a poppy for Remembrance Day?
The poppy comes from John McCrae’s 1915 poem “In Flanders Fields,” which describes poppies growing among soldiers’ graves. Canada adopted it in 1921, and it is traditionally worn on the left side, over the heart. Donations to the poppy campaign support veterans and their families.
Is Remembrance Day the same as Veterans Day?
They share the same date and the same origins in the end of the First World War, but their focus differs. Remembrance Day, observed in Canada and across the Commonwealth, centers on those who died in service, while Veterans Day in the United States primarily honors all veterans, living and deceased.
How can I honor a loved one who served and has passed away?
You might wear a poppy in their name, attend a ceremony, share their story with younger family members, or speak to them during the two minutes of silence. Writing a letter of thanks can also be a meaningful way to express what went unsaid.
Can I connect with a loved one who served during a psychic reading?
Yes. Connecting with loved ones on the other side is part of every psychic reading I do, and that includes family members who served. Sessions are available by Zoom, phone, or in person in Woodstock, and you can book at lewismabee.com/book-appointment.
