The night before Anzac Day I usually pray a bit. That it doesn’t rain in the morning. I hate to see the servicemen and women, the marching bands, the kids there in memory of their grandfathers, the diggers, walking down George Street in the rain.
Don’t rain on their parade, I chant all night to the powers that be.
I know the effort it has taken to get those uniforms perfectly pressed, I know how long they have polished their shoes, how they have shined their medals, how they have gotten up so early for the dawn service.
I want there to be an air of rejoicing, not sombre skies darkening the day.
I want as many people to turn up and show their support as possible which is less likely if it is pouring.
It was raining this morning. I heard it on the roof, brushing against the windows at 3AM.
There’s still time for it to stop, I thought, before going back to sleep.
But when I got up it was still raining. A slow drizzle that turned the streets silver.
I heard a woman fussing over her father who was preparing to march. She was complaining about the rain.
Her father said something that really moved me.
We don’t mind the rain, he said, it means we look for the sun. It’s a reminder we all came home. It’s a reminder that life goes on.
It always rains on Anzac Day.
Maybe it’s just as well.
Lest we forget.
Selma In The City 
Beautifully written.
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Beautiful. Lest we forget.
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Wise man.
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I usually do not comment on posts concerning war. However, I do wish to express my condolences to the families of the 8,709 Australian soldiers , 21,255 UK soldiers,10,000 French soldiers, 2,271 New Zealand soldiers, and the 1,358 soldiers from what was then known as British India, who did not make it back. I read about the Gallipoli “campaign” , and it indeed is a sad tale of a brutal battle. I hope the day will come where activities like war will be a thing of the past. I pray that we as a civilization will be able to solve our differences without the need for armed conflict.
Here, as well as in other parts of the U.S.A. , teachers are forced to have furlough days. Libraries are being closed on this island, and there has been discussions of implementing a 4 day school week. I suggest that the soldiers of the U.S.A. have furlough days as well. A day where no planes are launched , no bullets fired, and no bombs exploded. Perhaps the savings can then be used to educate our children better, in the hopes that this next generation will find a way to prevent war and all of the atrocities associated with it. This was a wonderful post Selma. Thanks for reminding us of the sadness we as a species must endure as a result of war…of any kind. May the fallen rest in peace.
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Hi ONE OF THE GUYS:
Thanks so much!
Hi JENNIFER:
I love the ANZACS. Such noble people.
Hi DAOINE:
He was so wise. His comment moved me so much.
Hi PUNATIK:
A furlough day would be very welcome, I’m sure. Sadly, because of the cost of the war machine it is unlikely to ever happen. I hope that one day we don’t need to lose any more of our most courageous, good people in war. I think the presidents and prime ministers should fight it out in hand to hand combat. If they were forced to fight I’m sure diplomacy would become the order of the day.
I agree – may the fallen rest in peace.
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Lovely post Selma.
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Hi GABRIELLE:
Cheers, hon.
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Absolutely loved this post. Kiss, kiss Selma.
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Moved me to tears, that did. Lovely.
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Hi ROSHAN:
I am really glad you did 😀
Hi TEX:
I always feel really emotional on ANZAC Day. I have a deep respect and love for those men. Sometimes it surprises me.
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Selma,
I had to look up what Anzac Day was, as I was unaware of its significance. I think that the comment at the end about looking for the sun sums it all up. As you said, lest we forget.
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