THE nation will fall silent today to mark Armistice Day and remember those who fought and died for Britain.
Veterans and their families will join military top brass at The Cenotaph in Whitehall to pay their respects to those killed in conflicts since the beginning of the First World War.
Schools, offices and churches up and down the country will take part in the two minutes' silence at 11am, marking the time when Allied Forces declared an end to fighting with Germany 97 years ago.
The Gurkhas will be among regiments lining the street for the Whitehall ceremony, where singer Cerys Matthews will read an extract from The Times newspaper from October 1915 about the deaths of 41 only-sons in battle.
The Queen will spend the two minutes' silence privately at Buckingham Palace where she will remember the war dead with her family.
And later tomorrow, 19 British veterans will be presented with the Legion d'honneur, France's highest distinction, for their role in liberating France during the Second World War.
The medals will be presented by the French Ambassador Sylvie Bermann at a ceremony at her residence in Kensington, London.
Ms Bermann said: "I feel privileged and incredibly moved to award these veterans with France's highest distinction, which is our way of thanking them for their tremendous service to our country in the Second World War.
"Just as today we remember the fallen of the First World War, so we shall never forget the courage of those who fought for France's liberation over 70 years ago. To them, France owes its freedom."
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