Do you know what ANZAC DAY Is?
By jennybianca
@jennybianca (12912)
Australia
April 25, 2007 5:07am CST
Australia has a public holiday today. I thought it appropiate to mention what this represents to us, even though most MY Lotters won't be interested.
ANZAC DAY is to commemorate all those men & women who fought in all the Wars. It started as a commemoration for WW1, but has extended to include all wars.
In particular, it is remembered the bloodshed at Gallipoli. Galliopoli is a part of the Turkish Peninisula. Thousands of Anzacs (Australia, New Zealand Corps) landed at Gallopli to fight the Turks. The cliffs they had to climb were immense, & the Turks were at the top. The Anzacs were cut down in their hundreds, wave after wave of men, for months. The Turk positions were meant to have been bombarded from warships at sea, but somehow the wrong site was chosen (not by the Aussies or NZ)& the Anzacs were left undefended.
The Anzacs lost, of course, but made secret retreat at night, after a few months of devastation.
It is because of this event, & the immense braveryof the Anzacs, thjat we celebrate Anzac Day,.
I have written this from what I know.
A more complete story of the ANZACS is available here:http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/
6 people like this
10 responses
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
26 Apr 07
I had read something af that terrible battle a number of years ago. I didn't know that it was celebrated though. One of my favorit movies is about Australian Light Horsemen. It was about the australians fight the turks. I had read about Galliopoli though. It was a terrible battle. Not only for the soldiers but also for the mules that were lost.
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
26 Apr 07
The movie you may be thinking of is The Charge at Bersheeba". It is an amaizing true story of 800 light horseman charging the village of Bersheeba. It was Germans they were after, not the Turks, although I think Bersheeba is in Turkey.
Another ourstanding movie about Galliopoli is called just that "Gallipoli".
4 people like this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
25 Apr 07
Happy Anzac Day. When I was growing up we celebrated Poppy Day on Nov 11th, the day WW1 ended, and vets sold artificial poppies in remembrance. Now it is observed for the fallen in all wars. Thought you may enoy this verse for all the fallen;
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.
3 people like this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
26 Apr 07
Every student here has to learn that verse, but I doubt whether many of them remember it.
1 person likes this
@suscan (1955)
• United States
26 Apr 07
I remember Poppy Day and my parents buying poppies for us. I found one of those poppies in a box of keepsakes.It is important we honor our Veterans in all out countries. They put their lives on the line to protect us.
That saying is great.
@brendalee (6082)
• United States
25 Apr 07
Its nice to know of different celebrations that other countries have. I'm thinking this must be similar to our Memorial day which is at the end of May. Do you have special things going on like parades or special services?
3 people like this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
25 Apr 07
Yes, we have the Dawn Service, which is at 6.00 am. Then the veterans get together for various functions around town.
All school children study it too.
Peple say that is strange that we commemorate a defeat (WW1 at Gallipoli), but very few know of the bravery of the Australians & New Zealanders at this place.
You should see a comment a few below yours, which is from a person who lived there in recent times.
2 people like this
@gharinder (2044)
• India
28 Apr 07
well jenny nice to know about ANZAC, indeed they were great, brave enough to fight for their country, thanks for this information , have a great day
2 people like this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
26 Apr 07
i hadn't hear of the holiday before-it's nice that they have a day of rememberance for them :)
it would be like our veteran's day,i guess.
3 people like this
@mummyofthree (2715)
•
25 Apr 07
I had not heard of this day. I think it is a very good to have these types of days to remember those that fought in wars.
It is also a good way of passing down the knowledge about times past to new generations so that they learn about their heritage and just how important it is.
Thank you for sharing this with us.
@Nardz13 (5055)
• New Zealand
26 Apr 07
Hi Jennybianca, I am familiar with ANZAC DAY. As I am from New Zealand. Yesterday, all over New Zealand Soldiers, Returned Service Men and Women came out to commemorate with a march to local War memorial. Pride of place goes to war veterans. A short service followed with a pray and hymns and dedications to those gone before us, quiet an emotional service, especially during the time of silence, for remembrance and to commemorate those who went to gallipoli and those who fought in all the wars.
Another ceremony takes place on the same morning of the 25 april, in which the service men wear there medals and march behind banners, they are joined by other community groups, including members of the armed forces, red cross, cadets, and veterans of other countries forces. This ceremony is less intimate and less emotional then that of the dawn service, held in the early hours of that same morning.
Usually after these services many of the veterans and returned service men and women retire to the local RSA clubs or hotels, where they enjoy coffee and rum and unwind after an emotional and physically exhausting event, especially for the veteran soldiers. At the end of the day the ceremony of "retreat" is performed... A really honourable day indeed for New Zealand and Australia...
@apricotrains (456)
• Melbourne, Australia
28 Apr 07
I watched Kokoda the other night for the 1st time. I was horrified at what our soldiers had to do & go through in order to protect our country. They suffered horrendous conditoins & a a brutal enemy that did horrid things to them. These soldiers at Kokoda & Anzac cove now have my undying respect & gratitude for what they did.
