Lest We Forget.

[Iggypoppin']

Today we remember our fallen ANZAC soldiers. Please do all you can to remember them.
I will be attending Brighton dawn service here in Adelaide.
Please no military bashing or taking this thread off topic.

[my_gxl]

I will be having a beer for my fallen mate Bill Lambourn, Rat of Tobruk.

I couldn't bring myself to go to the dawn service. I made it last year. Watched some of the dawn services on TV. I take solace that I am remembering them.

There is a bit of talk that recent returned servicemen, from Iraq and Afghanistan (such as myself) are not out in numbers. I will say that the struggles within might still be too great for many of these proud members to display publicly.

Give us time.

[calais]

Im out, did the dawn service in sydney.

As always a humbling experience.

As an Iraq/Afghanistan vet myself, it seems a cultural choice these days to dissassociate ourselves a little. I do.

Lest we forget.

[glavas]

Vietnam vet here.. 2RAR

[NickyN]

To all of Australia's servicemen and women, thank you for your service, courage and dedication.

To those who made the ultimate sacrifice, my heartfelt deepest thoughts of appreciation to you and your family.

Even though we're in different countries, respect is international.




*Take all the time you need. After what you've been through, you deserve time and a sense of peace.

[my_gxl]

I got nothin. The Vietnam boys (and any other war before me) did it tougher.

[The Yeti]

The mrs n I did went to Richmond one as usual, seemed to be more people than last year

[pundit]

I went to the Mount Gambier dawn service.

First time I have ever been to one in 25 years a bit slack I know but what a moving hair raising experience I thought.

My theory was people say no to going because they don't want to get out of bed to go I say bugger it the soilders done it every day for war so why be so self indulgent and put my money where my mouth way and it was great!

[FGII-XR6]

thank you to those who fought so we can enjoy the freedom we have today

we shall grow not old as they 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 shall remember them
lest we forget

[Iggypoppin']

It's one day of the year that we do this, it's so little to ask. I have mates who don't think it's "worth" getting out of bed for. I am ashamed to say that they are mates of mine really. Thankfully there are very few of them. Most people I know have attended a service somewhere today. Very moving.
I enjoyed a breakfast at a Chinese owned cafe, the owners moved to Australia and told me they pay respects to our fallen soldiers as often as they can. They told me that even though they weren't born here they are thankful for the safe country we live in which is safe because of our fallen soldiers. Lots of respect to them.

[revcore]

I will be having a few drinks today in memory of all those brave soldiers that fought...Those that came back and those that were casualties of war.

Lest We Forget.

[XR.1967]

Lest we Forget..

[fordomatic]

Some of us are excited about ANZAC Day, anticipation about catching up with mates and having a good day. Some of us have the pre-ANZAC Day blues, not sure if we really want to go and march or not and if it would be worth it. And some of us are visiting very dark places because the past memories and experiences are beckoning or taking over. Regardless, I will remember you all, brothers by choice. To the ones we lost i will never stop remembering you.

Lest We Forget

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by my_gxl

I got nothin. The Vietnam boys (and any other war before me) did it tougher.

Your sacrifice is no less significant or remarkable than that of others. You were still taken half a world away to try and make the world a better place, endured hardships that modern warfare brings, and lived with the constant reminder that each step could have been your last. You did what a lot of people couldn't or wouldn't be prepared to do in this day and age.

Thank you.

(E: and the same goes for the rest of you MEAO guys )

[hawkgirl]

as mentioned elsewhere, this is the first march we've missed in about 7 years, due to illness. We will watch the march on the abc to see 78 squadron though.

sadly, i see a lot of people nowdays using today as just another excuse to get wasted, this is not what its about.

thank you to those here that have seen service.

[Mickxr8]

Attended the Dawn Service at the Bunbury War Memorial

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.

LEST WE FORGET

[AU Mont]

With the Gallipoli centenary approaching, the nation should remember the words of our last Anzac Alec Campbell, who pleaded on his death bed: ''For god's sake, don't glorify Gallipoli - it was a terrible fiasco, a total failure and best forgotten''

Ted Matthews, a signaller at the landing, said: ''The British mucked the whole thing up. We landed on the wrong beach, the Turks knew we were coming, shot us to pieces and we never had a chance.'' Infantryman Fred Kelly said: ''It was ridiculous. The beach was too narrow, the cliffs were too steep and exposed to enemy fire.''

In Melbourne, Military Medal-winning sniper Jack Buntine said: ''We could never have won, the odds were too great.'' Tunneller Roy Longmore said: ''We were badly equipped, not even prepared for winter - shocking leadership.'' Water carrier Walter Parker said: ''Gallipoli achieved nothing. All those young Australians died in vain.''

And Len Hall, who also fought at Beersheba, concluded: ''Next time I would fight for the Turks. They are good people and it was their land not ours.''

[Charliewool]

Alec Campbell was correct.. Except for "best forgotten"
We should NEVER forget!
From generation to generation.. The ANZAC tradition needs to continue..
It's truly the heart and soul of Australia

[jackson105]

Lest we forget

[AU Mont]

Originally Posted by Charliewool

Alec Campbell was correct.. Except for "best forgotten"
We should NEVER forget!
From generation to generation.. The ANZAC tradition needs to continue..
It's truly the heart and soul of Australia

it was section from a news article, which had quotes from interviews made awhile ago

i thought it was an interesting perspective...... alot people treat Anzac day as the Big Day Out. Some people even go as far to feed the propaganda machine & write poems how the Anzac's wiped out the enemy & were victorious.

may all the soldiers who fought in the war rest in peace.

[XCH00N]

I went and marched for both of my grandparents as I do every year at the East Maitland march. That's where one of my pops marched when he was with us. Both done a lot for our country Richard Jackson was a gunner in WWII and was caught by the Japanese but was lucky enough to return home, and John William Kennard was in the Vietnam and Korean war and also was lucky enough to return. To both of them aswell as all of our soldiers THANK YOU.

Lest We Forget....

[jaydee]

Went to the dawn service at Blackboy Hill in Perth (my Gt Grandfather enlisted and trained from there before shipping off to France).

My son is backpacking in Europe and went to Villers Bretounoux (spell check) dawn service and I spotted him in the crowd on TV, was great as we haven't seen him in over 6 months.

A little taste of what families went through when their young men went off to war for years away from home, some never to return.

Thank God for Facebook, at least we know he's safe and well.

[melb78]

For all the Vietnam vets ,thankyou from all the greatfull in Toodyay.

[Papa Smurf]

Today I watched the march on TV, it makes me feel proud to watch those men and women get out there and show that they still matter as they did all those years ago and still do today.
I lost my Maternal Grandfather to WWII and my Father passed away in 1986, he served in the Royal Marines and the Australian navy, a service from 1939-1958 and was invalided out of the service. I also lost the opportunity to meet 6 of my relatives because they died at Auschwitz.

I marched in the Sydney procession from 1965 until about 10 years ago and never forgot why I was there, I played in a Brass band but no longer can.

I lost friends in Vietnam that I went to school with and so I remember so much EVERY Anzac day and I guess I always will until I get to be with them all again one day.

RIP Fallen hero's.

[Crazy Dazz]

Originally Posted by my_gxl

I got nothin. The Vietnam boys (and any other war before me) did it tougher.

Perhaps, yet in a time when the threats appear far from our shores and military service often distained, you have risked your life to serve your country.
Not serving when I was young (& trim) enough to do so will remain my regret.
YOU have my utmost and undying respect.

[Vincenzo]

As a kid, I would go to the ANZAC march in Canberra every year with Dad in the 60's. I can't remember how old I was when I found out Dad was a 17 y/o RAAF pilot in 1945. I used to religiously watch the Sydney march on TV especially when the WW1 vets marched. I remember the first year we ran out of living Light Horse Infantry and the horse was led riderless with the boots backwards, that was a real kick in the chest.

When I moved to Darwin I would go to the dawn service but not the march. Now, I stay away from them all as I go to pieces when I hear the last post. It is like having your heart ripped out every time I hear it. So I stay home and say a prayer of thanks to all those who served and are currently serving.

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. Mustafa Attaturk - 1934


Vincenzo (who will never FORGET)