April 25th, 2014, ANZAC Day in Australia and New Zealand

Hi, KJ, how amazing of you to post about our Anzac Day, thank you so much! Yes, it’s our Remembrance Day and commemorates the landing, 99 years ago today, of the Anzac forces on the beach at Gallipoli, in Turkey, where there was a massive loss of life, thanks to the idiocy of the far-away English bigwigs directing the war. I listened to the Dawn Service on the radio from Wellington this morning, it was very moving. Strangely enough, this shared experience of horror between us and the Turks has forged a lasting bond between our countries, especially today. Ataturk, the founder of modern, secular Turkey, who was the Turkish commander, said these beautiful words which are engraved on a memorial at Gallipoli:

“Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives… You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side now here in this country of ours… you, the mothers, who sent their sons from faraway 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.”

Very moving words indeed, Jcat. Scritches to Shadz.

I never heard I this Memorial Day.. But I’m deffinately gonna read up on it now.. Here in Ireland we don’t really have memorial days .. The biggest or best well known would be the 1916 Easter rising .. My great grand uncle was shot and killed on the Sunday of the Easter rising near the Jameson distilliary one of the Irish rebel strong holds an the last position to be given up..

There are a lot of events being organised for the big 100 year celebration and that will be huge!

So nice to have memorial days for those that gave their lives for a greater good ..

Timely Share from FB today!
LEST WE FORGET

In Australia and New Zealand we commemorate today those lives of our fellow countrymen lost in WW1 and the ensuing wars…I abhor war, but am honoured by those in my family who committed themselves to fighting for our freedom…my Grandfather, my Grandmother, my Uncles…and so I spend a quiet moment today to remember not only the ANZACs, but all those who have died in what is the senselessness of war…

They shall not grow old,
As we who are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them,
Or the years condemn;
At the going down of the sun
And in the morning
We will remember them.

Lest We Forget

“If you smile at me, I will understand, ’cause that is something everybody everywhere does in the same language…”