What is ANZAC Day?

We here in Canada still have the Poppy sales for November 11th and wear them proudly remembering all of the wars and the loss of our good men and women who fought and died and those that are still fighting and dying today..."Lest We Forget" That Buggle always sends me to tears...One of our highways now is called Veterans Highway and is identified by a large Red Poppy...
Note for "loish" don't worry "loish" a lot of us are up there with u...hugs x0x0x0

When I went to school (many years ago)it was Australia and New Zealand Army Corps. I guess the modern acronym was changed to include the other services who also went to war.

I always find ANZAC day, for me, is gut wrenching.
In the past I have found myself, in the middle of shopping centres, sobbing uncontrollably every time they broadcast a tribute to our fallen heroes.

"The Last Post" played by a solitary bugler, also renders me to tears.

I lost my favourite Uncle to wounds sustained in WW2 and but it is not only for him I shed my tears...

I was up all night last night and watched the sun rise this morning before I finally fell into bed.

"They shall grow not old,
As we who 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.....
Lest We Forget"

I'm glad I asked. Looks like we all have our own form of ANZAC Day. In Canada it's Rememberance Day, US is Memorial Day. Any other countries celebrate?

1 comment

by meganne 25 Apr 2009

We also have Remembrance Day, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the whole country (Australia) upholds a one minutes silence, though, sadly, with so many migrants here now, this is being observed less and less.

Political incorrectness? BAH! HOOEY!!!
hnr, M

Hi all, we too have been up since 3.15am, we took our children(8,8,&15) to the dawn service at Burleigh Heads Qld, then watched the sun come up over the ocean. We are so lucky to have a free country thanks to all our Diggers and service men and women. Our oldest 24yr old is in the Australian Army so we always,have and will, go to ANZAC day service.
Louise

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Have been op since 3am,rum and milk,tears,marching ANZAC bickies,BBQ breakfast,and the flame that never goes out. LEST WE FORGET.

Thank you for the question and thank you Cuties for the answers. I too had never heard of Anzac Day.

I attended the service at our Repatriation Hospital at 7.00am this morning. A lot of Veterans were there prior to attending the march in Adelaide. I watched the march on TV with my Vietnam Veteran husband when I returned home as he has PTSD and this is as close as he can get to any type of service or commemoration. I agree with Tolgamum about the 'last post', it sends chills down my spine!! Such a moving day!!

ANZAC day we remember all 'vets' but in particular the ones who died at Gallipoli which occurred on 25 April 1915 and turned into pretty much a massacre of our troops.

Our returned servicemen give out paper poppies for a koha or donation each year to wear as a reminder. The reason being the poppy was the first plant to grow in the area afterwards. (poppies apparently grow well in recently disturbed ground)

Here is a link with more information if you are interested.

I have been watching the march in Sydney - it is soooooo moving. When you see our old "diggers" as we call them in their jeeps because they are too old or frail to walk anymore - it just brings me to tears. I had the privilege of visiting Gallipoli last year and was just blown away and so overcome by the grave sites of all our young Aussie, New Zealand and other nation's sons, brothers, husbands, nephews, etc. etc. who were killed on that dreadful day. Some boys were as young as 14 (they lied about their age!!!!)

Our Turkish guide was fantastic and very sympathetic to us all. It is an important day to them of course too. Visiting there is something that I will cherish for the rest of my life.

To actually read the poem from Ataturk who became Turkey's leader was truly heartwrenching! Atatürk established a form of government in 1923. Have a look at our guide's website - http://www.allaboutturkey.com/ata...<

I'd like to share this poem with you written by Ataturk

"...You, the mothers,
who sent their sons from far away countries,
wipe away your tears;
your sons are now lying in our bosom
and are in peace.
After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well."

My son and my husband went to the Dawn service at our local Returned Servicemen's League this morning at Cardiff and said there were hundreds of young people and young couples with their children. It brings a lump to your throat to see such pride in our wonderful country.

As Tolgamum says it is not to promote war, but more to remember those who died for our freedom.

And as our Lord said John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

LEST WE FORGET!!

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I also found this interesting. There is so much we don't know about others all over the world. This was worth reading. Thanks for all the answers.

Very Interesting, I learned something today.
Guess I can go home from work.

ANZAC proudly stands for Australian and New Zealand Auxiliary Corps and each year on 25th April in every small town or city throughout the country, we gather to commemorate those brave servicemen and women served our countries in so many fields of battle. So many paid the ultimate price, giving their lives that we may enjoy our freedom and lifestyles. The Dawn service as the name suggests is the first of several parades and services at each cenotaph or war memorial throughout the day, and probably the most poignant with the "last post" played by the bugler as the day begins. Anzac Day is probably the equivalent of the US Veterans Day or the English Remembrance Day. The Day does not promote the glory of war or conflict, but rather it honours those brave citizens who gave their all that we might achieve and embrace Peace. Hope this answers your query Celtic Lady.

5 comments

by raels011 24 Apr 2009

Very well put

by raels011 24 Apr 2009

Very well put

by lyn4 24 Apr 2009

Yes, as Raels said, well put!

by loish 24 Apr 2009

It is more the equivalent of Memorial Day (formerly May 30) than Veterans Day (Nov 11, formerly Armistice Day). I remember that veterans in their American Legion uniforms sold poppies for years for Memorial Day, but it has been a long time since I have seen them. (
Giving away my age LOL)

by meganne 25 Apr 2009

We also have Remembrance Day, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the whole country (Australia) upholds a one minutes silence, though, sadly, with so many migrants here now, this is being observed less and less.

Political incorrectness? BAH! HOOEY!!!
hnr, M

Thanks you for the explanation.


Mona

Well I learned something today. thank u Mickey *

I never heard of it before today but it is a bit of info that is nice to know. Thank you! Linda in Ga.

Looked it up on Google. ANZAC is an acronym. This is what wikipedia says.. Anzac Day is a national public holiday in Australia and New Zealand, and is commemorated by both countries on 25 April every year to honour members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I. Anzac Day is also observed in the Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tonga. I learn something new every day.

1 comment

by sqdancer 25 Apr 2009

We are never too old to learn something new !!! Thanks celtic..

The only thing I know is that ANZAC stands for Australian & New Zealands Auxiliary Corps and I guess ANZAC day is what is Remembrance day in Britain - where they wear poppies on Nov. 11th as a reminder of the Belgian war fields during WO 1 and remember and honour all victims of all conflicts since then.

2 comments

by mops 24 Apr 2009

I went to the Kreative Kiwi site and there's an explanation for you.

by celticlady1031 24 Apr 2009

I'll have to go check it out. Thanks

I have no clue,but now I'm curious, too.