Can someone explain to me what Anzac day

is? Sorry me being the newbie in the country and all.

It stands for Austrailan New Zealand Army Corp. On the 25th of April (sorry can't remember what year) troops landed a Gallipoli (in Turkey) and heaps died. It is own way our remembering all the people that have died at war. This year is one of the very few that I won't be going to the dawn parade. I play in a brass band so I have been to a number of dawn services. If you are awake head down to one in you area and you'll learn a lot about it, or watch TV 1 tomorrow morning from 5.15am they are having coverage of the services.

I usually go to the Dawn Parade but I suspect this year I'll be watching it on TV.

I love ANZAC day, there's something really patriotic about it. I've been to the dawn service at Martin Pl in Syndey and it is really eerie, it starts at 4am and you see the sun gradually coming up and you can almost feel the ghosts around you.

Eeeee, giving myself goosebumps

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.

(From 'For the Fallen' by Laurence Binyon)

"Anzac Day mirrors the soul of our nation,
And shows the price it was willing to pay,
To secure our freedom, knowing if it was lost,
That soul would sicken, and would wither away"
(Bernard Sprunt)

Edited by emeldee

Gee thanks Emeldee, now I'm crying. For the Fallen does it to me every time A couple of years ago I went and listened to an Anzac poetry reading, it was really special, made me quite reflective.

I was talking to the preteen last night about ANZAC Day (he had homework to do about it) and asked him how he would feel if his dad, brothers or even himself were put on a ship to go half way around the world to fight a war that they may not come back from. He said that it was stupid and he just wouldn't go...to which I said - the people that chose to fight in the war were fighting for our way of life and freedom. They sacrificed everything so that people in later generations (like he and I) would be able to live a better life. He grunted at me. It might sink through.
In any case, tomorrow I'll be thinking of my l'il (who's really big now) cousin Nick who is currently serving in the Australian military and stationed in Iraq and our Poppa who served in Europe and Africa in WW2 and died before we were born.

As I have been going to the Feilding dawn service since I was 13  and i've only missed 2 (When I had Andrew and now this one), I can stand there freezing cold and say the words along with the minister. I really enjoy ANZAC day and did want to take Andrew and Josh to one but DH won't come with me over to Feidling and I don't really want to go over by myself. The bribery of a free breakfast didn't help the cause.

I'm watching the one on SKY news tomorrow, so i'm guessing its the Sydney one.

I have been luckly enough to have been to ANZAC Cove and it is the most emotional place I have ever been to and one of the most emotional days I have ever had. The turks have preserved the area so well and look after it with pride. You just say you are a kiwi and they shower you with so much respect and love it is weird.
A quote that is enscripted on a big plaque on your way to the cove is one that gets me every time I look back at my photos and read it.

"Those heros 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 Johnnys and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours.
You, the Mothers who send your sons from far away 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"
Ataturk 1934

Maya painted a poppy at preschool today and when I arrived to pick her up they were playing the national anthem. Gave me goosebumps all over again. LOL at Maya tho, she knows all the words in English and Maori and came home and told Daddy all about Anzac day. Too cute.

My grandfather was a spitfire pilot in WW2 and was injured parachuting out in 1944. He served in Burma and India with the British RAF. There's a story about him being in training with the RNZAF and he stole a plane one night and landed it on the main street of Hawera so the RNZAF booted him out but told him to sign up with the RAF instead (I think they were passing the buck, by all accounts he was a real maverick). He passed away in January '03 6 weeks before Maya was born, and I've worn his medals to the dawn parade at Martin Place a couple of times.

I'm going to do it! I went to band practice last night and while they were hard to blow Ithink I will manage. With lots of safety pins and a little modification I can get my kilt on.....and look pregnant not just huge (very important distiction). Oh and our parade is a leisurely 10.30am one.

Hope every one has I good day.