Thousands Rally Around This Major Campaign Following The Queen's Death
There are plenty of ways to pay homage to dearly-departed loved ones worthy of austere and venerable remembrance. Some among us are commemorated with a statue or monument, while others have a foundation erected in their name. Whether it's a physical memorial or a symbolic one, human beings love to construct something that stands as a vessel of continued existence for those to whom we have a hard time saying goodbye.
Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8, 2022, nearly 150,000 British citizens have called for a national Bank Holiday in honor of the late great monarch. Kent Live reports that a petition was drafted that would establish the day of her death as Queen Elizabeth Day — and the number of those rallying together to make it a reality is only increasing. John Harries explained in his Change.org petition that it would be "a day for our nation to come together and celebrate both the life of the Queen and our gratitude for the institution of our royal family."
Will September 8 become Queen Elizabeth Day?
"Britain has fewer bank holidays than most European countries; France has 11 compared with our 8, Spain has 14. I believe we need a new public bank holiday to mark our greatest Sovereign's lifetime; a Queen Elizabeth Day," John Harries wrote the Change.org petition. While the Crown's context in world affairs has generally been viewed as more or less a symbolic one, the late Queen utilized her royal acclaim to give back in ways that will continue to benefit populations years after her death.
According to Morning Star, Queen Elizabeth II contributed to "more than 600 charities, military associations, professional bodies, and public service organizations in the United Kingdom." She also made use of her public appearances and recognized the effect they had on various global phenomenons. History reports that in 1966, she postponed her scheduled appearance in Wales after an avalanche of mud and water collapsed upon an elementary school, ultimately resulting in the tragic deaths of 144 individuals (116 children and 28 adults). The Queen reasoned that her visit could have deterred rescue efforts and didn't want to distract from necessary exhumation operations that could have saved dozens of lives. And this is just one example of the notable moments in her 70-year reign.
Case in point, Queen Elizabeth II devoted herself to giving back, and those who continue to mourn her are doing everything they can to keep her legacy alive. Perhaps a national Bank Holiday is a good place to start.