Today is ANZAC Day. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. April 25 is a national holiday of commemoration to honour members of our Defence Forces who have served, and who are serving our country in the cause of peace. In particular we remember those who have lost their lives in the line of duty.I am having a right royal time in the A to Z Blogging Challenge, complaining about things, with a couple of experimental exceptions, but today I cannot complain because I feel very grateful. I live in a great country: Australia, and it's great because of the ANZAC spirit which was immortalized on April 25, 1915 at Gallipoli. The Australia and New Zealand soldiers who landed at Gallipoli at dawn on that day, suffered a calamitous defeat. 8000 brave men died. The campaign was an unmitigated disaster, and had no impact at all upon the wider European conflict. However, it spawned the ANZAC legend which is now an intrinsic part of who we are, as Australians and New Zealanders.
We applaud their bravery, and honour their sacrifice on this day. The battle at Gallipoli was lost, but the war was won albeit at an unspeakably high cost. The ANZAC spirit symbolises victory over fear and tyranny.
No, no complaints from me today. Just thanks. I especially want to mention my late grandad, Victor Rayner, who was a paratrooper in WWII, and my uncle, Alf Cairns, who fought in Vietnam, but to all who served and are serving...thank you.
Honour the fallen. Lest we forget.
I've never been to Australia, but it's a country I could easily live in for a while, I think. Is there any places with snow and skiing possibilities? Or is that only on New Zeeland?
ReplyDeleteCold As Heaven
You can ski in the Australian Alps (New South Wales Victorian border) in the winter.Come on down some time.
DeleteI'm in New Zealand so we've just celebrated Anzac Day too. I really hope we don't have any more wars on that scale.
ReplyDeleteThe death toll from the Great War defies belief. It still shocks me every time I hear the numbers. I always imagine whole football stadiums of young men dead.Sadly, there will always be wars, but I agree with you. God forbid it should ever be that bad again.
ReplyDeleteHave never heard of the ANZACS. Glad you mentioned the 2 who fought in WWII and Vietnam. As an American, it's too easy to forget the worldwide impact of these wars.
ReplyDeleteThe ANZAC spirit is the heart of Australia. We are very proud of all our defence personnel, past and present. My uncle marched in the ANZAC Day parade again this year, as he does every year. He's been back to Vietnam as a tourist as well. He never talks about it. I can understand the silence of those who return from war.
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