With tomorrow marking the 105th anniversary since that fateful day at Gallipoli in 1915, dawn services will be taking a different approach this year with people encouraged to pay their respects from their driveway.
I wish to utilise this week’s entry to commemorate the lives of the men and women who have fought for this country, both past and present.
I am extremely grateful for those who have sacrificed themselves to protect and uphold this country’s way of life and embody the ANZAC spirit. What a number of people have had to go through in order to do this is incredible and often deeply horrific and traumatising. I have a friend whose grandfather is a 100-year-old World War II veteran (and still going strong!) and his story is a miracle. For those interested, the story of “Norm” Eaton is nicely summarised in this short piece a few years ago by our local media, GWN.
On my travels I have visited many war memorials and museums, and I always sense an aura about these places, like the spirit of the soldiers lives on there – plus there are some pretty amazing relics, models and accounts of events as well.
What I want to leave you with is what is commonly referred to as the “Ode” (or “League Ode”), which comes from a poem by Laurence Binyon called “For the Fallen”.
"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them."
So please join the many, tomorrow at 6am, who will be conducting the new “Covid-19 approved” dawn service from their driveways, porches or balconies, as we continue to pay tribute to those who have served and continue to serve. Lest we forget.
