ANZAC Day

Today in NZ it is ANZAC Day, or the day to commemorate Australian and New Zealand military forces past and present. The major focus is around the Australian New Zealand Army Corps, who were involved in the Battle of Gallipoli, during 1915, in World War One. A place where 2,700 New Zealanders, and 8,700 Australians met their deaths on the muddy beaches and hills on coastal Turkey.

The day is marked by wearing poppies, a tradition taken from Remembrance Day, or Armistice Day, celebrating the end of World War One.

Two years ago, I had the privilege of visiting the National War Memorial, in Wellington. I visited just prior to ANZAC Day, so it was a rather quiet, sombre place. At the entrance to the building is the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior (the bit with the crosses on it), an unknown New Zealand Soldier from World War One

Inside the building is the Hall of Memories, with commemorative areas to the New Zealand soldiers that have died during international conflict, listed in the Rolls of Honour kept within the building.

As a child, I had never much involvement with ANZAC Day, but had an understanding of what its past involved. I find as I have aged, as has my knowledge of the sacrifice that New Zealand provided to the major wars that plagued our planet through the 20th century. The nationalistic pride for ANZAC Day appears to have evolved in the last few years, I find this especially good, since a large number of the old surviving soldiers are no longer with us.

Lest We Forget