What are you going to do on ANZAC day?

[FriendlyFire]

We dont have a nation hood day like 4th of July in America. Instead we celebrate anzac day as nation hood day. Simply it was the First AIF (Australian Imperial Force) The first time Australia fought as a nation in its own right.

We remember because of the tragic circumstances in which thousands lost there lives. the entire dardenells campaign, the utter incompetence, Total unpreparedness, The unobtainable goals, unrealistic expectation. Then the self sacrifice and bravery of the men who carried it out.

 

[classical_hero]

Having just come home from the Dawn service. We have a dawn service because it is about the time that the ANZACS first landed on th shores of the Dardanelles/ANZAC Cove. From all reports, there have been record attendances. Here is a link o a story. http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,15077772-2,00.html Perth, for having the largest gathering of the dawn service in the world for this day. It was from Western Australia that the ANZACS left for the conflict in Europe.

 

[M37]

It is far more than a failed campaign - it is the crucible in which the fires of suffering, slaughter, sorry ineptitude and sacrifice forged the young ore of our new island nation into the hardy steel of tremendous valour, service, courage, mateship, humour and toughness.
We were but fourteen years old as a nation, and sent off a massive proportion of our young men on the glorious adventure to the far side of the world, some of them barely fourteen themselves. The commemeration of the first day marks the experience of the entire campaign, and of the war, though more went on to different fields in Flanders, Pozieres and Beersheba. It glorifies not the campaign, not the war, and not wars, but the young Anzacs who lived, fought and died, and shaped the national image and consciousness by their experience.

They are gone from us now, those last men who left our shores over ninety years ago, full of fresh faced ardour and spirit. They left as not quite British and not quite...something else, but fought and returned - save the many, many, many who dwell now in memory and foreign fields - as Australians. It is something different from November 11th, combined with our birthday of 26th January. It is where we came of age. It is where the modern Australian existence began.

That is why we celebrate ANZAC Day. That is why thousands of young Australians and New Zealanders flock in ever increasing numbers to the sacred cliffs of Gallipoli. That is why thousands more line the streets and salute our diggers, present and absent with leave.

Sounds like a good idea.. Kinda like if Canada had a Vimmy ridge day
-Canda's firsst chance to put the entire canadian core 30K + troops to use aginsts the Germans in WWI circa 1917 (previously we had fought a number of a actions but the forces were spread acoss the threatre.)

BTW thanks for explaining what is was it showed up on my calinder and I had no Idea what it was about.
as for tomorrow I'l be working.

 

[Nobody]

I went to work, and just came home. my little sister was in the parade because shes a girl guide,

 

[Desmond Hawkins]

If today is ANZAC day, then my birthday has more meaning then I expected.

 

[Margim]

I did a very Victorian thing and went to the footy... they've worked enough pagentry into the pre-game to make me feel a proud enough Aussie. Would've liked to have made the dawn service, but trains don't run at four in the morning.

 

[fe3333au]

@Sobieski II - happy belated birthday

Re Trains - you would think that just for one day that the trains would run in the morning ... and be free ... I'd catch one even if i had to pay ... we don't have trains in Tassie

I watched a Two Up game behind the pub ... very cliche' ... but also confusing ... but it was fun yelling and cheering anyway