ANZAC Day Reflection

Some of the traditions I observed throughout ANZAC day both during the Dawn service, and the March and service that was held at 11am, were the different men and women and men in uniform and the parts when they would stand in different formations during the ceremonies. I also noticed that they had the flame there although I think that has only been done this year to commemorate 100 years since the ANZAC’s landed on the beach of what is now known as ANZAC cove.
The symbolic items I saw during the day were rosemary and the poppies, the rosemary is worn because it is found growing along the Gallipoli peninsula therefore has significance for not only ANZAC day but also Remembrance Day as well, the poppies are worn because it is a symbol of war remembrance around the world, people all over the world wear the poppy to remember those who died in war or who still serve.
I don’t know much about the Frankston cenotaph I just know that it is a place where we can remember not only the ANZACs but all of the other soldiers who fought in different wars around the world and risked or sacrificed their lives to give us a better future, because it wasn’t just the ANZACs who sacrificed their lives to make the world we live in now better. I am glad that in the services this year I heard them mention the other people in not only the Great War but the Vietnam War, WWII and other wars throughout time, because these people need to be remembered as well.
If we forget those who sacrificed their lives how are we supposed to teach and show the younger generations what happened to these great men and women in these wars helping to create a better place for us.
I was very fortunate on the day to be asked to carry the Australian Flag as we marched. This was a huge honour because as I walked down the street with everyone else I felt connected in some way to both my Pa Brian who fought in japan and my great grandfather Arthur who fought in World War 1.
Lest we forget.

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