ANZAC Day

[Debbie]

Today is ANZAC Day in New Zealand.



"ANZAC DAY is held on 25 April each year to commemorate New Zealanders killed in war and to honour returned servicemen and women. "

http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/Gallery/Anzac/Anzacday.htm


Too many people have died, fighting in Wars.
May we never forget the terrible Wars that
have been in the past and loss of life.
So few return and so many suffer.
Peace and blessings to those who have passed
away and to those who still remain.
Peace on Earth.

 

[kotori]

Cheers!

For contributions in war and peace.

 

[serial]

and in Australia too....after all that's why there is an A in ANZAC

 

[Guest]

 

[missy2]

No matter where you're from,your service people deserve respect.They've been through more than we'll ever know,and it's for everyone that they're doing it.Whether you think it's right or wrong-they are true heroes.
A guy I know that was in Viet Nam came home,and coming out of an airport in California,in uniform,was stoned by a group of people they walked by.He said the emotional toll of that was worse than the battles there.He did what his country wanted and was heavily ridiculed for it.That sucks.Honor all those who have served-they deserve it!

 

[p_p_man]

An ANZAC Poem...

Grandpa, What Did You Do In The War?

"I’d been mowing the lawn and pulling some weeds, and slipped inside for a breather
I picked up the paper and turned on the news, not paying attention to either
When my grandson came in with a look on his face and a question that hit me full bore
An innocent question, no intention to hurt, “Grandpa, what did you do in the war”?

My skin went all creepy, I had sweat on my brow, my mind shot back fifty years
To bullets that thudded and whined all around, to terror, to nightmares, to tears
I was crawling through mud, I was shooting at men, tried to kill them before they killed me
Men who had wives and children at home, just like mine, just like my family.

“What did you do in the war?” he had asked, a question not meant to cause pain
But it brought back the horrors I’d left far behind in a deep dark recess of my brain
I remembered the bombs being dropped from the planes, the explosions, the screams, and the loss
Of a friend - or an enemy - but a life just the same, replaced by a small wooden cross.

The visions attacked me of tramping through jungles, hot and stinking, with leeches and flies
Of orders that seemed to make no sense at all - of distrust, of suspicions, of lies
I lived once again all those terrible storms, the dysentery, fever, the snakes,
The blisters that lived with me month after month, all those blunders, and costly mistakes.

But how could I tell the boy all about that, ’Twould be better if he didn’t know
It’s a part of my life that I don’t talk about from a good half a century ago
So I gulped, took a breath and tried to sound calm, and bid him to sit at my side
Then opened my mouth to say a few words, but the tears welled up and I cried.

He cuddled to me with a look of concern, and I mumbled of feeling unwell
Then took hold of myself, blew hard on my nose, while I thought of some tales I could tell
“What did I do in the war,” I began, then the stories began tumbling out
And they flowed with such ease I felt better again, and got over my pain and my doubt.

I told him of how I had made many friends, how I’d trained and had gone overseas
Made a joke of how seasick I’d been on the way, almost dirtied myself when I’d sneezed
I told of the joy of the letters from home, of the hand-knitted socks and the cake
That I got for my birthday but three weeks too late ’cause it went somewhere else by mistake.

We talked about mateship and what it had meant to trust someone else with your life
And of when I came home to my family again, to my kids, Mum and Dad, and my wife
Of the crowd on the wharf, the bands, and the pomp, and the pride I felt in the parade
But I’m not ashamed that I hood-winked the boy, a decision I’m glad that I made.

He can grow up without seeing fear in my eyes, or know of the terror I knew
For he’d not understand - and neither he should - all those memories that hit me anew
But maybe some day when he’s older than now, I will tell him what war did to me
But with luck he won’t ask me ever again, about wars that never should be.

Jeff Cook"

ppman

 

[p_p_man]

A Final ANZAC Poem...

ANZAC Day

"I saw a kid marchin’ with medals on his chest.
He marched alongside Diggers marching six abreast.
He knew that it was ANZAC Day - he walked along with pride.
He did his best to keep in step with the Diggers by his side.

And when the march was over the kid was rather tired.
A Digger said “Whose medals, son?” to which the kid replied:
“They belong to daddy, but he did not come back.
He died up in New Guinea on a lonely jungle track”.

The kid looked rather sad then and a tear came to his eye.
The Digger said “Don’t cry my son and I will tell you why.
Your daddy marched with us today - all the blooming way.
We Diggers know that he was there - it’s like that on ANZAC Day”.

The kid looked rather puzzled and didn’t understand,
But the Digger went on talking and started to wave his hand.
“For this great land we live in, there’s a price we have to pay
For we all love fun and merriment in this country where we live.
The price was that some soldier his precious life must give.

For you to go to school my lad and worship God at will,
Someone had to pay the price so the Diggers paid the bill.
Your daddy died for us my son - for all things good and true.
I wonder if you understand the things I’ve said to you”.

The kid looked up at the Digger - just for a little while
And with a changed expression, said, with a lovely smile:
“I know my dad marched here today - this is ANZAC Day.
I know he did. I know he did, all the bloomin’ way”.

D. Hunter
(A veteran of Shaggy Ridge with the 2/12 Battalion in WW2)"

Good on yer fellas....

ppman

 

[Ladybird]

Lest We Forget...

http://www.mouse.webby.com/imagesc2/anz4.jpg

 

[T.H. Oughts]

Least We Forget

My family are off son to our ANZAC Parade which my son with his Cub pack is marching on. It is raining here today, but what is a couple of hours of us standing in the rain for the months and years others gave for our freedom......

 

[erosman]

Anzac biscuits ?

I still have a downloaded recipe on my computer for Anzac biscuits, that you, Debbie posted on a thread many months ago. So, is today the day I should be making them?

 

[Debbie]

Re: Anzac biscuits ?

I still have a downloaded recipe on my computer for Anzac biscuits, that you, Debbie posted on a thread many months ago. So, is today the day I should be making them?

You don't have to make them today! They are lovely to
eat at any time of the year. Enjoy.

Thank you for the Anzac poems p_p_man.

ANZAC stands for Australia New Zealand Army Corp.
It was very early this morning when I wrote this.
I did not meant to make it sound as if I was
not including Australia.

Lest we forget

 

[scrymettet]

Thank you

Some of my favorite grandfather stories was about the Australians.
How had a small pack of Australian soldiers ended up in my small Belgium village in 1919 ? I never found out.
But their stories was so funny.

The mule races.
They were artillery mules so no saddle. No race track neither.
The fields was the racetrack and the hurdles was hedgerow , thorny hedgerow.
So now imagine jumping over on a saddleless mule. Half of the mules were refusing to take off and balking.
The landing could be rude as well.

The first Snow.
The snow balls battle went on for two days.

 

[kiwiwolf]

ANZAC Day...

I used to go to every Parade. I'd be up at 3 am ironing my uniform and polishing my brass. My boots would have a mirror shine. My jump wings and stripes would be as white as I could get em and my creases would heve a razor sharp edge. I would march with other men and women from my corp and some from my old unit. I was proud to do so.

Then three years ago I turned up to the parade to find a couple of guys marching with us. They wore uniforms from Army surplus stores and berets and corps belts that didn't match. One claimed to have served in the NZSAS... my old unit. He wore an Armoured corp belt and an infantry beret. Both were drunk... I haven't marched since.

ANZAC Day means a lot of things to a lot of people. I use the time on ANZAC Day to reflect on friends who won't be coming back... Sam, Hemi, Glenn, Karl and Simon... I miss you all guys.

I will never forget... Sleep.

 

[someplace]

ANZAC is celebrated in the States too

Just so you know, there is a hauntingly beautiful ceremony held in the National Cathedral in Washington, DC to commemorate ANZAC Day. It's been a few years since I attended, but I remember the trumpets' notes floating in that incredible space -- very stirring and humbling. It's an official holiday for both the Aussie and Kiwi embassy staff and there's quite a large Southern Cross community who all attend.

Don't forget to have some ANZAC tea with your ANZAC biscuits!

 

[Richo01]

my thoughts on Anzac day

I believe we should all remember the brave people who gave the ulimate sacrifice so that we could live our lives in the way we do now.

Not just in the the world wars but also in the more recent conflits.

Lest we Forget

Richo

 

[kiwiwolf]

Re: my thoughts on Anzac day

I believe we should all remember the brave people who gave the ulimate sacrifice so that we could live our lives in the way we do now.

Not just in the the world wars but also in the more recent conflits.

Lest we Forget

Richo

Amen...

 

[T.H. Oughts]

Their spirit lives in us till this day,
there lives were never given in vein.

When we see tall trees rember them,
the life they gave you and your friend.

Not just today but other days too,
we give thanks for our boys so true.

T.H.


The woman took on more than their charm,
they milked the cows, looked after the farm.

They worked in the factories giving their time,
to help their men and bring peace with their mind.

Not only the soliders gave of their time,
remember the woman whos life made mine.

T.H.


My ANZAC thoughts 25-4-02

 

[Juspar Emvan]

ANZAC Day...

I used to go to every Parade. I'd be up at 3 am ironing my uniform and polishing my brass. My boots would have a mirror shine. My jump wings and stripes would be as white as I could get em and my creases would heve a razor sharp edge. I would march with other men and women from my corp and some from my old unit. I was proud to do so.

Then three years ago I turned up to the parade to find a couple of guys marching with us. They wore uniforms from Army surplus stores and berets and corps belts that didn't match. One claimed to have served in the NZSAS... my old unit. He wore an Armoured corp belt and an infantry beret. Both were drunk... I haven't marched since.

ANZAC Day means a lot of things to a lot of people. I use the time on ANZAC Day to reflect on friends who won't be coming back... Sam, Hemi, Glenn, Karl and Simon... I miss you all guys.

I will never forget... Sleep.

You served? Suddenly an already deep respect, gets deeper. I have felt a compulsion to serve for som many years. Having arrived in Canada, I started the application process, again last week.

I feel so indebted to those who were prepared to risk it all for the freedoms we take for granted today.

I reccomend the movie Gallipoli, staring Mel Gibson, to absolutely everyone.

 

[T.H. Oughts]

With the setting of the sun.......

 

[ilovewriting]

God bless all thoes who fought to keep us out of the clutches of dickhead nations, and may their memories life forever more.

 

[RhumbRunner13]

Gallipoli

Thanks Ozy's and Kiwi's, for those times you have stood with us!

Rhumb

 

[Mr Wolf]

ANZAC's

To all ANZAC's, where ever you are and our cousins in the those countries.
Although Britain's Gov may be running our Forces down and be anti-British history many of us ex servicepeople have met and served with you. We know that you have been with us always in our time of need, so to you all we say CHEERS! This one's for you, we never forget.

For all the fallen everywhere:

Their's not to reason why,
Their's but to do and die

Gone but not forgotten.

 

[koalabear]

 

[Guest]

Holy Bible - Sgs 8:4 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake [my] love, until he please.

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[Mr Wolf]

Shameless bump

Surely there are more Aus/NZ out there?