Today is Anzac Day in Australia and New Zealand. ANZAC stands for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. April 25 was the day the ANZACs landed at Gallipoli in 1915 with the intention of knocking Turkey out of the First World War. Their campaign failed. Read about it here.
Many people get up at dawn to attend memorial services while others attend the ANZAC Day march that takes place down Sydney’s George Street. In recent years there has been a surge of interest in Anzac Day. Many people used to regard it as just another day off but now there seems to be a genuine desire to remember those who served and those who fell. We are proud of our Diggers (Aussie soldiers) and want to pay our respects. For years this song written by Eric Bogle and sung so beautifully here by the Irish folk singer, Liam Clancy, summed up how many felt about war and Anzac Day.
The last line speaks of the dwindling number of soldiers left to march in Anzac Day parades –
Someday no one will march there at all
which was probably true several years ago but is not the case now. Soldiers from World War Two, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and those who have recently served in places like Iraq and Afghanistan are now free to march. As are the descendants of the original Anzacs. It is so heart-warming to see children and young adults in the parade proudly wearing their grandfather’s or in many cases, their great-grandfather’s medals. We need to remember these honourable men, these everyday blokes, who left everything they knew to go and fight for their country. I raise my glass to you, dear Anzacs, may we never forget. May we always have people to march and remember.
Selma In The City 
It sounds like ANZAC Day is similar to our Memorial Day in the US. Maybe celebrated a little different, but to honor those who have served our country.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Linda~
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Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day here in the US. Like you said, “May we always have people to march and remember” and may our “leaders” one day stop inciting wars where we need to send our beautiful men and women into danger.
Middle Minion had to register for the draft and I’ve not slept well ever since.
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Cheers to that Selma. Lest we forget.
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i have such a hard time with the mentality that feels war can accomplish anything but death and destruction…
i did so enjoy the video tho,, coming from an irish background, in part as i do,, i was taken away way back with the sound of his voice…….
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“May we always have people to march and remember.”
HERE HERE AMEN! xxooo
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Well said…
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We need to give more respect to our men and women in the armed forces. They get abuse on the streets for wearing a uniform that they have worked so hard to wear. I always feel pride when I see one of our brave fighting men/ women in town.
Remembrance Sunday here is one of the more emotional National Days for me… and although we’ve only recently started celebrating Veteran’s Day in 2006 it has become one of those days that I feel we should make more of a deal of.
Congratulations on another excellent post!
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Simply beautiful video Selma, thanks.
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I agree with Paisley. War is a hard thing for me to “get”, but the video is indeed beautiful. That folk singer manages to convey a tremendous amount of wistfulnesss–perhaps in wanting REMEMBER those who served, while at the same time, he appears to mourn the utter futility of war. Great post(I read all about ANZACS day, after I watched your video post)
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LINDA – I think it is very similar to Memorial Day. Hope you have a lovely weekend.
KAREN – now I won’t be able to sleep. Does that mean he will definitely have to join the armed forces? Please tell me it’s just a formality.
GYPSY – Amen.
PAISLEY – I am very anti-war but I do believe in honouring the men and women who served. Many of them were subjected to a mandatory draft system and had no choice but to go to war. I acknowledge their bravery while maintaining my anti-war stance. Incidentally, I know you love watching films and if you want to watch a brilliant anti-war film I highly recommend a French one called ‘Joyeux Noel.’ You will not believe how moving it is. And Liam Clancy, what can I say but one of the best Irish folk singers ever!
MELEAH – definitely. We have to remember them. XX
NAT – kind of you to say so.
BEC – I love you even more now. That’s all I have to say.
ANGRY – it is a good one. What a singer he is!
LISA – you have said it better than I ever could. Wistfulness in remembering those who served while mourning the utter futility of war is just spot on. You are amazing!
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