Anzac Day reflections

@DogMan79 thanks for sharing your thoughts.

I agree and think as a country we have not done well in looking at our history and teaching it to our children in many areas. It’s so important to understand the events that have shaped our society and collective values. That’s not to say we should blindly glorify war, but that we understand why Anzac Day exists and recognise the courage and sacrifice of those who went. And also to understand why the experience of Vietnam vets was so different. Only by understanding the past can we hope to build a better future. I think that applies at a personal level too I guess - by understanding the things that have made us who we are (strengths and challenges) we can keep working to be our best selves and pass on the best of ourselves to the next generations.

Thanks @tyme

I always forget to tag everyone

history is so important - I’m glad it’s compulsory now. If we don’t know our collective history and question why things were done we can’t hope to make things better in the future.

I think that’s why Anzac Day is so important - and why the way we commemorate it in Australia is so profound - we don’t glorify the wars we fought, rather we honour the service and sacrifice and acknowledge the human cost. I’ve also noticed in the last few years the growing acknowledgement of the cost to the families of the veterans who never returned, as well as to those left behind while loved ones were serving and the ongoing impacts when they returned.

@Captain24

what a proud history of service in your family - thank you for sharing. And how great that your boss commemorated it at work. That’s really lovely.

Thank you to everyone for your powerful contributions @Magpie22 @Captain24 @DogMan79 @Breakfast68 @Appleblossom .

Remembering and honoring those who fought for this land is so important.

Thank you for sharing.

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your reflection @Magpie22. It's moving to see the different reflections from you @DogMan79 @Appleblossom @Captain24 and I appreciate you sharing it with us.

So great to see you again, @Breakfast68- Albeit I'm sorry to read that your ex-wife is still being unkind, and it seems as though she's making things unreasonably hard for you. We're here and sitting with you through this.

I'm so happy to see the support we can all offer one another here in this space.

Lest we forget.

ANZAC Day has also been a special day in my family for as long as I can remember.

sitting at my maternal grandmothers home with my grandmother, my parents and my mums youngest sister as everyone sat quietly as we watched the ANZAC Day march. Everyone sitting completely silent as sign of respect during the service at the end of the march.

my maternal grandmothers dad had been an original ANZAC. A bronze commeration medallion that has his name engraved on the ribbon on one side laying against the dark blue ribbon in the hard case that it had arrived in. For as long as I remember, each visit to my grandmother I took the medallion down, gently wiped it over and,crafter turning it over, put it back in place. From early primary school I somehow knew it was special and handled with respect. (cropped photo of medallion attached)

ANZAC Day to me is a special day of remembering, paying respect and acknowledgement to all the men from both countries that bravely went to battle to allow us to have our freedom

Lest We Forget.

@Flutterbug9

what a wonderful memento of your family

connection to the ANZAC story.

thanks for sharing

I agree about the solemnity of Anzac Day - I think that’s why I have stopped

participating in the main march - it’s always loud and almost celebratory, as well as my own feelings about how my service ended. The morning service is more solemn and reflective

I truly believe our forum/s are such an amazing support mechanism, that others will engage. Steadily increasing at a pace which supports us all & still demonstrates our respect, appreciation and comradely we have all had the great fortune to be a small component of.

Hey @Magpie22, thanks again for starting these threads about ANZAC Day!

Reading your post it made me think about my fathers connection to other veterans that he serviced with and the mateship he donsontrated in those friendships. Dad always had stories to tell about his mates from the Navy and obviously had been close to them at that time. It gave me the leasons in maintaining and respecting friendships with people who I became close to that has shaped my frinedships with people. I think this is definitely something that he took away from the Navy and a very positive aspect of his service.

Thanks again!

RiverSeal