April 25th - ANZAC Day - remembering fallen soldiers
A History of ANZAC DAY
(As written by ChatGPT):
ANZAC Day is one of the most important days on the calendar for Australians and New Zealanders. It is a day of remembrance, commemoration, and reflection, held annually on the 25th of April. ANZAC Day is a time to remember the sacrifice made by the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) during the First World War, and to honor those who have served and continue to serve their country.
ANZAC Day originated in 1916, one year after the ANZACs landed at Gallipoli in Turkey. The day was initially called ANZAC Day, in recognition of the bravery and sacrifice of the ANZAC troops during the Gallipoli campaign. Since then, ANZAC Day has become a day to remember all Australians and New Zealanders who have served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations.
One of the most famous phrases associated with ANZAC Day is “Lest we forget.” This phrase is often used in speeches and ceremonies, and is even engraved on war memorials. The origins of the phrase can be traced back to a poem written by Rudyard Kipling, called “Recessional,” which was published in 1897. The poem was written to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, and was a reminder that even great empires are subject to the passage of time and the inevitability of decline.
The phrase “Lest we forget” comes from the last verse of the poem:
“Lest we forget—lest we forget! Oh, keep our land in memory yet, And when we stand to answer, let Us say ‘We remember—lest we forget!'”
The phrase was later adopted by the ANZACs as a way to remember the sacrifice made by their fallen comrades. The phrase has since become synonymous with ANZAC Day and is used to remind people of the importance of remembering those who have served and died for their country.
ANZAC Day is a solemn day of remembrance, but it is also a day of celebration. It is a celebration of the courage, resilience, and determination of the ANZAC troops, and of all those who have served and continue to serve their country. It is a day to honor those who have given their lives in defense of freedom and democracy, and to acknowledge the ongoing sacrifice made by those who serve in the armed forces.
In conclusion, ANZAC Day is a day of great significance for Australians and New Zealanders. It is a time to remember the sacrifice made by the ANZACs during the First World War, and to honor all those who have served and continue to serve their country. The phrase “Lest we forget” serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of remembering the sacrifice of those who have served, and of the ongoing need to protect the freedoms and values that they fought for.
The poem used on ANZAC Day - written in 1914
(As written by me):
The poem called “For the Fallen”, is also known as”The Ode of Rememberance”, and was written by Laurence Binyon during the first year of World War I. He was an Englishman, residing in Cornwall at the time. His poem was written to commemorate the thousands who had already given their lives in the war.
This poem was adopted by the ANZACs and is used as an integral part of the rememberance services held in the two countries of New Zealand and Australia and by expatriates around the world every ANZAC Day (April 25th).
Found at various memorials, tributes and military sites around the world, the Ode is even found in microcsopic sizes!
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Remembering Family
My paternal grandfather, Rev. Arthur Clarence Boquest served in World War II. He was a Padre (def. Christian clergyman serving the military) during Australia’s battle in Papua New Guinea.
While he didn’t serve long, as was sent home with Tuberculosis and was discharged after 2 years, I still remember him reading exerpts from his diary as I grew up.
Grandpa passed away in 1993 and I remember one of the highlights of his last years was being asked to speak at an ANZAC Day service in his local township.
ANZAC Day – a day for remembering the fallen and the passed on, a day for celebrating our freedom and a day for repeating the phrase “Lest We Forget”.
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