Anzac Day

Tomorrow April 25 is Anzac Day and it is one of Australia and New Zealand's most important national occasions.

This year marks 102 years since the original Anzac's landed at Gallipoli in 1915.

102 years since the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War.

For those who are not aware, and hopefully there are not too many of you, Anzac stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corp. The soldiers that were in the Australian and New Zealand forces very quickly became known as the Anzacs, they took a great deal of pride in the name that was given to them and that pride remains today in generations of Australians and New Zealanders who stop to remember.

Anzac Day goes beyond the anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli in 1915.

Anzac Day is the day when we stop and remember all Australian and New Zealanders who have served and died in war and on operational service.

Anzac Day is when we stop and show support to all those solders both past and present who have seen the worst of our world and yet they did not try to hide. Instead they entered those areas with faith, hope and courage. We stop and remember all those soldiers who entered the darkest time of our history to fight in hope of bringing light to it.

On Anzac Day we stop in silence and take a moment to remember and give thanks to those soldiers who were able to keep the darkness at bay. We also stop and give thanks to those who continue to keep it at bay.

The people who serve in our Armed Forces, past, present and future and no matter what capacity or rank they serve as, have chosen to stand and protect. They do not get a say in where they go, what they see, hear and feel or what they risk. They do this because they believe in a better future where all humankind will not have to make the same sacrifices that they have done and continue to do so.

On Anzac Day, my family stops to remember our relatives who fought for our country and lost their lives. We stop to show support to those relatives and friends who are current serving members of our countries armed forces.

On Anzac Day we stop to keep the spirit of the Anzac alive. We remember the qualities of courage, mateship and sacrifice that these soldier's carried with them and hope that we too can continue the Anzac tradition and carry these qualities with us throughout our lives.

"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."

Lest We Forget

The Ode, For the Fallen by Laurence Binyon