ANZAC Day

[TwylaTwobits]

LDD shared a link with me last night, the pictures were very moving to me, knowing as all those men sailed away that quite possibly none of them would see their island home again.

Today is a day of remembrance for the folks down in NZ and a time for reflecting for all of us who have lost kith and kin due to any war, remembering the fallen...the people who died so that you and me could sleep safely tonight. No more no less. Lest we forget.....

ANZAC Day (http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/anzac-day-2010/3554103/Anzac-special-Saying-goodbye)

[TwylaTwobits]

Oh no.....

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3620627/Anzac-Day-chopper-crash-kills-three

[Long Duck Dong]

what a emotional day......

it started at 11 am with the scottish highland band, doing the lead in for the vets marching along the street leading to the memorial, followed by members of the currently serving forces, including the police and the dog handlers ( we rank them in with the armed forces as many of them are people that have served in the forces, and are fighting a war against crime )

after a address by the mayor and a tribute by the heads of each force, we then had the australian national anthem sang, then the nz national anthem sand in maori then english.... then from australia, the national president of the anzac / rsa association spoke to the crowd ( estimated to be 2-3000 people )

then the laying of the wreaths ( I intend to get pics of them to post ) and the playing of the last post, and a march thru.....)

what can i say.... to see those men and women honoured so greatly, brings tears to my eyes.... cos when we honour the servicemen and woman on anzac day, we count amongst them, all the servicemen and woman from around the world that has served, is serving, here with us now and no longer but never forgotten.....

on behalf of nz, I give a big thanks to all the men and women around the world for what i have now...... freedom.....
and to the men and women currently serving over seas..... we have not forgotten about you.... we want you home.....

to the lgbt and our allies, that are our friends and lovers, family and our online family, that have served and that have not, yet too have fallen over the years.... we have not forgotten you

* the rsa ode to the vets *
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 pics, in order
1st looking down the line of mixed service men and women, it includes the wearers of medals in honour of their relations that have served
2nd is the march down with the flags, past the mayor
3rd is during the march by, the man on the right in the green beret, is my step father, ( served in nam, victor company, as the vice president and welfare officer of the rsa in my area, he organizes the anzac day parade and is the parade marshal )
4th is the flag bearers at the head of the march
5th is the police and dog handlers, its part of the total united services parade standing during the addresses to the crowd by the various speakers

[12voltman59]

Oh no.....

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3620627/Anzac-Day-chopper-crash-kills-three

Certainly a bummer--its one thing to get killed in an operation of some sort--but to go down and lose your life in what was supposed to be a fun time--that really sucks--but it does go to show---that no matter what the situaition----military or law enforcement types of service have their inherent dangers just doing the "day to day" sorts of things that take place.

May peace be upon the families of the dead crewmen.

[MarieDelta]

This really sucks, RIP guys...

[Cherokee_Mountaincat]

The pics are beautiful, Duck. But I grieve for the ones lost on this day..:(
May they too be remembered for their dedication and bravery. RIP Loves..
Cat

[Long Duck Dong]

hugs cat..... we had children marching in the parade too, proudly wearing granddads and great grand dads medals cos they are no longer here, but the children are so proud of what they did for their country and their fellow country men and women, but also for the future generations to come

I sat up at the rsa tonight with the president of the rsa for my area... and he had his grand nephew with him, proudly wearing a miniature set of great granddads medals and granddads medals and his fathers... a young lad of about 7.... and he told me about how great granddad fought in the mud and guts and would kick grenades like soccer balls, back to the enemy etc etc
tall tales I know. but the look on this young lads face and how he swelled with proud as he told me about what each medal meant and what it was for.....
and the look in his eyes when he told me about how his great grandfather had died in WW2 " cos great granddad wanted me and mum and dad to be safe, and grandma would write to him every day and make scones for when he came home "

then he said ' I am going to join the army too and serve like great granddad and grand dad and my father, cos I can make nanas scones for the other soldiers when they are away from home "

I had tears in my eyes when I stood outside, having a smoke.... remembering what he said.....

anzac day for us is a day of remembrance, a day for us to give thanks and salute those whom never came home, and give thanks to those that did, and who have told us what happened to those that didn't...... and as long as we continue to have wars.... we will continue to have anzac day......

I just can't help but hope that 7 year old boy doesn't grow up to see the hell of war... and know there is a nana at home baking scones, waiting and hoping that a grandson is coming home....

lest we forget

[TwylaTwobits]

hugs cat..... we had children marching in the parade too, proudly wearing granddads and great grand dads medals cos they are no longer here, but the children are so proud of what they did for their country and their fellow country men and women, but also for the future generations to come

I sat up at the rsa tonight with the president of the rsa for my area... and he had his grand nephew with him, proudly wearing a miniature set of great granddads medals and granddads medals and his fathers... a young lad of about 7.... and he told me about how great granddad fought in the mud and guts and would kick grenades like soccer balls, back to the enemy etc etc
tall tales I know. but the look on this young lads face and how he swelled with proud as he told me about what each medal meant and what it was for.....
and the look in his eyes when he told me about how his great grandfather had died in WW2 " cos great granddad wanted me and mum and dad to be safe, and grandma would write to him every day and make scones for when he came home "

then he said ' I am going to join the army too and serve like great granddad and grand dad and my father, cos I can make nanas scones for the other soldiers when they are away from home "

I had tears in my eyes when I stood outside, having a smoke.... remembering what he said.....

anzac day for us is a day of remembrance, a day for us to give thanks and salute those whom never came home, and give thanks to those that did, and who have told us what happened to those that didn't...... and as long as we continue to have wars.... we will continue to have anzac day......

I just can't help but hope that 7 year old boy doesn't grow up to see the hell of war... and know there is a nana at home baking scones, waiting and hoping that a grandson is coming home....

lest we forget

Damnit babe now I need a tissue.......things like this are always emotional and it's great to see a nation so proud of all who served.