Today is Anzac Day. It is the day Australians and New Zealanders remember the soldiers who landed at Gallipoli in 1915. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. It is the day that we remember those men who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
Over the years we also remember those soldiers who fought and died for their country in the 2nd World War, Vietnam, Iraq and now Afghanistan, in fact any conflict that Australia has been involved in.
The day starts with a commemorative dawn service at an Anzac memorial, which are found in most towns and cities around Australia. Wreaths are laid at these memorials in memory of those who have died. They have the service at dawn because this is the time of the original landing at Anzac Cove. At around 9-9.30am marches are held through the towns and cities. Past and presents soldiers march along with the families of deceased soldiers.
Today has truly become this country's National Day, I think even more so than Australia Day. I remember as a young girl, going to watch my Dad march in Renmark. Even though he never spoke of his time in the war, it was a proud moment for him to march.
That's my one regret, never to get Dad to talk about his time in the war. I remember asking him questions about it but never got any answers. I have come to learn now that Dad wasn't the only one who would never talk about the war. Apparently it was very common among the returned soldiers.
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