ANZAC Day 2018 - Lest we forget

[Feenix74]

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them."

"It is the soldier, not the minister, Who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the soldier, not the reporter, Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet, Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, Who has given us freedom to protest.
It is the soldier, not the lawyer, Who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the soldier, not the politician, Who has given us the right to vote.
It is the soldier who salutes the flag, Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag, Who allows the protester to burn the flag." - Charles M. Province

Lest we forget

[worktroll]

Lest we forget.

[Daryk]

Lest we forget!

[worktroll]

Eric Bogle's "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" is a powerful and moving song, written in 1971, in honour of those who fought, and with then those fighting another war in mind.

But the sentiment of the last verse has not come true as he wrote it:

"And the old men march slowly, old bones stiff and sore, the forgotten heroes of a forgotten war
And the young people ask, what are they marching for? ...and I ask myself the same question"

In the last 20 years Australians have rediscovered ANZAC day and what it meant in terms of the formation of our nations' identities, and the continual reforging thereof. And the old men march no more - not even in the back of cars - but new generations of veterans march. And not only do Australian veterans march, but veterans of the ARVN, veterans of distant allies, and even veterans of those who used to be our enemies. We also recognise the role Turks played in our national identity, and the role we played, inadvertantly, in theirs.

There was a time when it seemed Australians might forget. They did not. We will not.

Pace my grandfather, winner of the MM at Villes-Bretonneux, and all those who came back from war as he did. Pace all who did not.

[Nightlord01]

Lest we forget.

[beachhead1985]

He's not my favourite, but...

"In a fight; there is no better man to have at your side than an Austrailian."
-Lyndon B. Johnson.

[Daryk]

An Ally is an Ally, but I have to say I've done more for the Australians I've known than any others...  :thumbsup:

[Feenix74]

We will always help our mates, and you guys/gals are some of our best mates  :thumbsup: