Sadly, I am unable to attend the Dawn Service this year, So, I am posting this pic I took at Onslow on my trip around Australia.Also a few thoughts about Anzac Day.
Let us not glorify war
Let us remember those who sacrificed their own lives so that we may live in peace and freedom in this great land
Let not "political correctness" overtake our heritage
Let those who come to our country embrace our culture, our history and values
Let neither race nor religion sully our day of rememberance
-- Edited by Bent Axle Bob on Tuesday 24th of April 2012 09:34:24 PM
-- Edited by Bent Axle Bob on Tuesday 24th of April 2012 10:12:16 PM
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Take only your memories, leave only your footprints
I take this opportunity to remember the men and boys in my own family who went to war, particularly those who lie buried in Gallipoli and in France. I also wish to pay my respects to those mothers, sisters, wives and lovers who wept for them.
LEST WE FORGET
Rosie
-- Edited by Rip and Rosie on Wednesday 25th of April 2012 08:59:23 AM
We have had two of our members pass away in the past two weeks.\ and too many for the year.
At the meeting last week, I asked who was going to attend this years march?
Sadly, less than a handful where in good enough health to attend.
Ours numbers are getting less and time is becoming precious.
It saddens me to see the toll on good men and women's health, due to war.
I wish and pray that the young men and women in the armed forces we have out there today, could avoid these future problems.
Lest we forget.
Dusty
President
National Malaya, Borneo Veterans Association of Australia (Tasmania)
ps:- My Anzac Day = Rubbing plenty of deep heat, getting my back massaged ready for a Facett Blocker procedure on Friday. Not allowed to have a drink, too many pain killers.
-- Edited by Landfall on Wednesday 25th of April 2012 09:37:33 AM
Very well said Bob, all Australians should think like that no matter where they are from. ANZAC Day is not to glorify war but to remember those who gave everything for our freedom.
Thanks Dusty. I'm a Viet Vet myself and awaiting a surgical proceedure as well, Thats why I couldn't go the service,But at least it gave me time to pen out those 5 thoughts, Will be at next years service, one way or another
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Take only your memories, leave only your footprints
One of my uncles, Edwin McIntosh, is classed as being the first casualty of the Gallipoli campaign. He went over in the first contingent & died of meningitis (I think that was the desease) just after they got there. He has a special tomb in Cairo of which I have a copy of a photo of it. I got it from the Canberra war memorial. His father, my grand dad then decided he would go to Gallipoli although he had a wife & 8 kids. He was there for a while & had a few shrapnel wounds then took sick. The medics decided he had appenditis & shipped him back to England. The doctors there had a closer look at him & decided he also had 'old age'. The silly old codger had put his age down by 10 years so he could go. His papers when he came back were marked - debility & old age. He must have been a strong old fellow though - in his late 50's because he fathered 3 more children.
The number of school children with their parents, and the other people younger than 35 was inspiring at Williamstown, SA. I keep putting "SA" after the town's name because there's another Williamstown in Vic I think. The township has a population of about 350/400 people, but the representation at the Dawn Service was humbling. About 250 people attended.
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
David and I went to to 7am sevice at Jimboomba. I was doing ok till some littlies went up with their little posies of flowers. That really choked me up. I can still remember going to the march in Melbourne as a child . Was so proud to see my dad marching with his mates down to the beautiful Shrine. Sadly not long after dad passed away his Battalians Reunion branch was closed because there was only a few member left. Cateye is now having a beer up there