Tower of London surrounded by ceramic poppies, art installation created by Paul Cummins in honor of the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I, London, England (© Philip Sayer/Alamy)

Tower of London surrounded by ceramic poppies, art installation created by Paul Cummins in honor of the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I, London, England (© Philip Sayer/Alamy)

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• Today in the United States, we honor all who have served.""What will you do to say thanks?
• Those are ceramic poppies surrounding this iconic building.""And each one of the “flowers” is a symbol
• Today\s observance is a tradition that\s nearly a century old…""But there\s a lot about it that may surprise you
• From its earliest construction in the 1080s, this building has been a palace, a prison, a zoo, a place to keep the Crown Jewels, and many other things besides.""But there\s no mistaking its original role as a fortress stronghold