Lest We Forget

ANZAC day is coming up on the 25th of April. On this day 90 years ago, the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, along with British, French and Indian troops, landed on Gallipoli in Turkey. April 25, 1915 is a day that has a profound impact on the identity of Australia as a nation (I think New Zealand as well, though you'd have to ask a New Zealander about that). I have no idea why, we lost. The troops were withdrawn eventually. Both sides of the conflict suffered great losses.

To me, ANZAC day is all about remembering the sacrifices people in made in war time...and also, to remember the sheer futility of war. On the one hand, troops that repelled the Japanese during World War II as they were on the doorstep on Australia were fighting for the country's freedom, it was only a matter of time before they invaded Australia. Yet, with Gallipoli, Australian troops were fighting for Mother England and weren't fighting for their own freedom but for Britain's, still they were allowed to die while fighting for someone else. Gallipoli was a futile, useless exercise as is most of war. Sometimes though, it is essential to fight.

So, what does ANZAC day mean to you? For non-Australian and New Zealanders, do you have a similar day? If so, what does it mean to you?

Here in RI, (exclusive to RI, I think we're the only thate that has it) we have VJ day, Victory over Japan. That day means watching footage of WWII all day and being awed by Saving Private Ryan on the local channels.

In US, we also commemorate September 11th with vigils and most churches hold special services for the locals who died. That's all I can think of, except the 4th of July and Pearl Harbor Day.

-SC

They shall not grow 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.

I have heard of the ANZACs and also of several other corps... In our city we remember the raid in Dieppe France in WWII thats why our city is Named dieppe after the many canadian soldiers that fell in the onslanght. so yea

Eh... I don't think this day means anything special to me. If you want me to name a day that's special, it would be 8:15 in the morning of August 6, 1945, the day that Hiroshima got bombed by two primitive but deadly atomic bombs.

Well in Canada we have D-Day, or Remebrance Day(Nov. 11), where we honour veterans of WWII.

To be honest, I didn't know about this day, but it sounds like what Pearl Harbor Day and 9/11 mean to Americans.

Well, it's ANZAC day today. I'm not going to any parades or anything (I've got Uni work to do) but I will think about all of the Australian and New Zealand troops who fought in the theatre of war. My great-grandfather was in the Battle of Beersheba in World War I, the last charge of the light horse brigade. That was the last conflict in which the light horseman were used.

Lest We Forget.

Originally Posted by Mr Spork

Well, it's ANZAC day today. I'm not going to any parades or anything (I've got Uni work to do) but I will think about all of the Australian and New Zealand troops who fought in the theatre of war. My great-grandfather was in the Battle of Beersheba in World War I, the last charge of the light horse brigade. That was the last conflict in which the light horseman were used.

Lest We Forget.

Its also a public holiday then schoolgose back tommrow (for us because were special ^.^ our sdd is moved to the next week)

My great-grandfather was at Gallipoli and was one of the few who survived. We go and visit him every ANZAC Day. Someone above said about Rememberance day on the 11th of the 11th. We in Australia celebrate that too.

Lest we Forget.

Its so significant that you got 27000 (was it that or 270000? =\) people coming, and staying for the ANZAC parade in the Sydney CBD. Not to mention the thousands packed in Anzac Cove for the Gallipoli dawn service. How's that for significance?

The problem is there are many more who don't give a darn about what those brave men and women had to endure to keep our country safe.

Originally Posted by dark-isaac

The problem is there are many more who don't give a darn about what those brave men and women had to endure to keep our country safe.

Younger gerations seem to think its useless. lol

Sir Chuc dont forget the other marches in the contery lol

Originally Posted by trinest

Younger gerations seem to think its useless. lol

Sir Chuc dont forget the other marches in the contery lol

Which is a shame. I find it annoying that during the Anzac Ceremonies at school there's more people chatting and making rude comments than paying some respect. This generation is so spoilt, heh.

Lest we forget.

I'm a younger generation. But maybe its just how I was brought up.

It seems that with each generation people look less at the heroism of the individual, and more at how badly planned the engagement was and how pointless celebrating the deaths of thousands of men is. Myself, though I am one of the 'younger generation' I believe that the fallen deserve the honour bestowed upon them. How many people these days could do the same in the ANZACs' shoes?

The engagement wasn't exactly planned. They landed at the wrong place.