I finally "get" ANZAC Day

yellowled24

As the years have passed, I finally have respect for our fallen war heros.
I can actually see how the many who went to war for our country, did it for us, and now Im standing here with my family, thanking them for giving me and many others life.

Im not big on wars, and a bit of a fence sitter, but I can truly say, that I see what a huge gift that these veterans have given me.
This year, Im going to be getting up for the dawn service, and paying homage to them all. Its the least I can do.

Jeanie

yellowled24 wrote:

As the years have passed, I finally have respect for our fallen war heros.
I can actually see how the many who went to war for our country, did it for us, and now Im standing here with my family, thanking them for giving me and many others life.

Im not big on wars, and a bit of a fence sitter, but I can truly say, that I see what a huge gift that these veterans have given me.
This year, Im going to be getting up for the dawn service, and paying homage to them all. Its the least I can do.

There is a big difference between supporting war and supporting veterans yellowled.
I went to my Grandfather's ANZAC reunion yesterday as I have done for the last nearly 20 years. He has been dead for the past 7 of those. I still go every year, to give thanks to them for what they have given me.
Those men, fewer every year, that fought for our freedom from the Japanese, do not support war either. They never have. They fought for freedom, theirs and ours. And we remember them every year for their sacrifice. For having to do an unspeakable job. For doing what nobody else wanted to do. We remember them for what it cost them. We remember them for the gift they gave us. We remember them because we are grateful. And we remember because we would all hope to never have to fight again.
We remember all those who have fought, died and sacrificed in all wars.
I do hope you go to the dawn service yellowled. And if you can, buy an ANZAC day badge, to really support them, for they are old and tired now and need our care.



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.

rebornFixer

yellowled24 wrote:

As the years have passed, I finally have respect for our fallen war heros.
I can actually see how the many who went to war for our country, did it for us, and now Im standing here with my family, thanking them for giving me and many others life.

Im not big on wars, and a bit of a fence sitter, but I can truly say, that I see what a huge gift that these veterans have given me.
This year, Im going to be getting up for the dawn service, and paying homage to them all. Its the least I can do.

Anyone in their right mind isn't "big on wars". That's not what this sort of day is about, which is where some people seem to go wrong.
Glad you're changed your views, though.

catefrances

i have an uncle buried at lone pine.
clement alphonso hatch. 13th battalion. AIF.

dunkman

i'm glad you've "got" it..

Purple Hawk

reborncareerist wrote:

Anyone in their right mind isn't "big on wars".

something tells me that point won't resonate with most here

yellowled24

reborncareerist wrote:

Anyone in their right mind isn't "big on wars". That's not what this sort of day is about, which is where some people seem to go wrong.
Glad you're changed your views, though.

I was only putting in that comment about me not being big on wars, as every time I seem to say something on this forum, someone has a dig at me about, and I was trying to protect myself from pro war fanatics. And there are some out there you know.

yellowled24

Jeanie wrote:

They fought for freedom, theirs and ours. And we remember them every year for their sacrifice. For having to do an unspeakable job. For doing what nobody else wanted to do. We remember them for what it cost them. We remember them for the gift they gave us. We remember them because we are grateful. And we remember because we would all hope to never have to fight again.




So very true. Im thankful for your Grandfathers sacrifice.

Purple Hawk

yellowled24 wrote:

I was only putting in that comment about me not being big on wars, as every time I seem to say something on this forum, someone has a dig at me about, and I was trying to protect myself from pro war fanatics. And there are some out there you know.

no, there aren't a bunch of us blood thirsty warmonggers here...maybe dispelling that notion is the first step to dialogue

Jeanie

So perhaps we should not be worrying so much about war here, and more about honoring the dead and thanking the living more.

That in essence is what ANZAC Day is about.

As is Rememberance Day.

And my understanding, from the diggers that I know, is that we come together each year, and we have our rememberance because they would want for us to understand why it is they did what they did in the hopes that we never have to.

6th Docks Operating Company
Royal Australian Engineers
MILNE BAY
MOROBE
BUNA
LAE
GOODENOUGH ISLAND
BOUGAINVILLE

catefrances

Jeanie wrote:

So perhaps we should not be worrying so much about war here, and more about honoring the dead and thanking the living more.

That in essence is what ANZAC Day is about.

As is Rememberance Day.

And my understanding, from the diggers that I know, is that we come together each year, and we have our rememberance because they would want for us to understand why it is they did what they did in the hopes that we never have to.

6th Docks Operating Company
Royal Australian Engineers
MILNE BAY
MOROBE
BUNA
LAE
GOODENOUGH ISLAND
BOUGAINVILLE

but it just never seems to be that way, does it.

the war to end all wars didn't accomplish that.

it'd be fabulous if our leaders these days had actually seen a war first hand.

and at the going down of the sun. lest we forget

yellowled24

catefrances wrote:

but it just never seems to be that way, does it.

the war to end all wars didn't accomplish that.

it'd be fabulous if our leaders these days had actually seen a war first hand.

and at the going down of the sun. lest we forget

is anyone aware of any leaders, past or present who have served in a war?? I heard George Bush was in some sort of training years ago, and actually stood along side Osama bin Laden. Am I wrong?

catefrances

yellowled24 wrote:

is anyone aware of any leaders, past or present who have served in a war?? I heard George Bush was in some sort of training years ago, and actually stood along side Osama bin Laden. Am I wrong?

i believe george bush snr was a pilot. jfk was in the navy.
that's the extent of my knowledge.

lucylespian

A really interesting thing happened recently. The grandaughter of a soldier shot for desertion during WW1 had him exonerated and pardoned.
The man was a hero, served on the front for a long time, and refused to go back after being injured, after enduring conditions that we cannot really even begin to imagine.
He was shot, along with over a hundred other similar men, for cowardice.
He stood and looked the firing squad in the eye without a blindfold as they shot him.
The British Govt will still not recognise en mass that all those men suffered from shell-shock, or PTSD.

Jeanie

catefrances wrote:

i have an uncle buried at lone pine.
clement alphonso hatch. 13th battalion. AIF.

My great great uncle died from a gunshot wound to the head on a hospital ship off shore from Gallipoli. I believe he was buried in Alexandria.
Great Great Uncle Joe RIP.

And my great grandfather, who I remember so fondly to this day, was a member of the Light Horse and served in Palestine. I always remember him telling me sadly that they could not bring the horses home. That they all had to be shot. :(

Daughter of Jeremy

lucylespian wrote:

A really interesting thing happened recently. The grandaughter of a soldier shot for desertion during WW1 had him exonerated and pardoned.
The man was a hero, served on the front for a long time, and refused to go back after being injured, after enduring conditions that we cannot really even begin to imagine.
He was shot, along with over a hundred other similar men, for cowardice.
He stood and looked the firing squad in the eye without a blindfold as they shot him.
The British Govt will still not recognise en mass that all those men suffered from shell-shock, or PTSD.

That;s disgraceful, but not unexpected I guess. Whilst early research into PTSD started after WW1 (and was dodgy and very sparse) it wasn't really until the Vietnam War that PTSD became such a hot topic, and look at the way governments handled those war heroes suffering from it. Granted they didn't shoot the poor guys, but some of them probably would have been better off if they had, what with all they've subsequently gone through.

Jeanie

Daughter of Jeremy wrote:

That;s disgraceful, but not unexpected I guess. Whilst early research into PTSD started after WW1 (and was dodgy and very sparse) it wasn't really until the Vietnam War that PTSD became such a hot topic, and look at the way governments handled those war heroes suffering from it. Granted they didn't shoot the poor guys, but some of them probably would have been better off if they had, what with all they've subsequently gone through.

I agree completely.

Vietnam veterans have had a bigger war , or perhaps I should say longer, trying to get recognition and care after the fact.

I think that the way that governments have continually shafted the Vietnam Vets is appalling. But that whole thing from start to finish has been truly offensive.

I believe though, that we may, finally, be getting our Dawn Service from Long Tan this year and it's about time.