ANZAC day is the national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand for those who served and died in wars, conflicts and peace-keeping duties around the world.
History
“Anzac Day marks the anniversary of the first campaign that led to major casualties for Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. The acronym ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, whose soldiers were known as Anzacs. Anzac Day remains one of the most important national occasions of both Australia and New Zealand, a rare instance of two sovereign countries not only sharing the same remembrance day, but making reference to both countries in its name. When war broke out in 1914, Australia and New Zealand had been dominions of the British Empire for thirteen and seven years respectively.” – From Wikipedia
My Views
Anzac day is one reverent day in Australian culture that I can not help but to get emotional about. What really affects me is the sounding of the ‘Last Post‘, as it serves to remind me of the sacrifice that the men and women of all nations, especially Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States and our allies to protect our way of life and freedom to believe in what we decide too, and to do what we so desire in this great nation.
While some of the latest ‘conflicts’/’peace-keeping’ activities our brave men and women have been involved in, has been rather controversial in the broader community, they have my utmost respect and gratitude for the sacrifice of service, by putting themselves into harms way to protect our way of life.
A few of the diggers that I know, and I don’t often tell them how proud I am to know them are:-
- Brandt Grollmus
- Scott Payne
- Craig MacAskill
Ode of Remembrance
“They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.
They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England’s foam” – Sourced from Wikipedia