ANZAC Day 2012

Next Wednesday, April 25th, is when we celebrate ANZAC Day (Australia and New Zealand Army Corps) this is our special day to remember the brave Men and Women who have fought and died to keep our countries free.
Speaking as a proud Australian I can tell you that in every city & and town though-out the land there will be a gathering of people in the cold pre-dawn as they prepare to honour our fallen in a dawn service, this tradition started after WW1, (1914-18) just 13 years since the birth of our nation
we sent our brave youth of to war.

(The Federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate British self-governing colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia formed one nation. They kept the systems of government that they had developed as separate colonies but also would have a federal government that was responsible for matters concerning the whole nation. When the Constitution of Australia came into force, on 1 January 1901, the colonies collectively became states of the Commonwealth of Australia.)

In WW2 and in the following conflicts we have again sent troops to fight in those battles sad to say the cost in human life has been the terrible price they have paid, so its easy to see why ANZAC day has come to mean so much to us.

                                                                                  

 War Memorial in Canberra  

ANZAC Day

I saw a kid marchin’ with medals on his chest.
He marched alongside Diggers marching six abreast.
He knew that it was ANZAC Day - he walked along with pride.
He did his best to keep in step with the Diggers by his side.

And when the march was over the kid was rather tired.
A Digger said “Whose medals, son?” to which the kid replied:
“They belong to daddy, but he did not come back.
He died up in New Guinea on a lonely jungle track”.

The kid looked rather sad then and a tear came to his eye.
The Digger said “Don’t cry my son and I will tell you why.
Your daddy marched with us today - all the blooming way.
We Diggers know that he was there - it’s like that on ANZAC Day”.

The kid looked rather puzzled and didn’t understand,
But the Digger went on talking and started to wave his hand.
“For this great land we live in, there’s a price we have to pay
For we all love fun and merriment in this country where we live.

The price was that some soldier his precious life must give.

For you to go to school my lad and worship God at will,
Someone had to pay the price so the Diggers paid the bill.
Your daddy died for us my son - for all things good and true.

I wonder if you understand the things I’ve said to you”.

The kid looked up at the Digger - just for a little while
And with a changed expression, said, with a lovely smile:
“I know my dad marched here today - this is ANZAC Day.
I know he did. I know he did, all the bloomin’ way”.

written by D. Hunter