25th April: ANZAC Day

ANZAC Soldier, World War 1, The Cenotaph, Sydney NSW Australia.

Off my TV broadcast of the Dawn Service this morning.

"For the Fallen" : an excerpt.

"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."

[Those last 4 lines are known here as 'The Ode']

Poem written by English poet Laurence Binyon in 1914.

In Australia and New Zealand, 25 April each year is celebrated as ANZAC Day.

On this day, 99 years ago, soldiers of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landed on the beaches of Gallipoli in Turkey and the legend of the ANZACs was born in blood.

There were also British, Canadian and French troops involved in the campaign.

Having worn the uniform of the Australian Army when doing my National Service, on this day, I pause to remember the sacrifice of all those who fell in battle, on all sides, in all wars.

Sorry, but I exclude suicide bombers.

Not all will understand this. That's OK.

Lest we Forget.

george

PS: Looks like not many people care about ANZAC Day or veterans generally. Very sad. Will Veterans Day in November also be ignored? I think not.