ANZAC Day 25 April 2020
I heard someone ask the other day, ‘Why do we celebrate ANZAC Day?’ If you ask Google that question, the top answer which comes from an article from the BBC says,
“ANZAC Day, 25 April, is probably Australia’s most important national occasion. It marks the anniversary of the first campaign that led to major casualties for Australian and New Zealand forces during World War One and commemorates all the conflicts that followed” https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-32246077
We have no World War One veterans left and so few veterans left now from World War Two, yet the crowds at the memorial services and parades are growing with more younger people coming out to show their support. Of course, ANZAC Day is about all the conflicts that followed, not just the World Wars.
I don’t like war and never have, but it happens. At this time of year especially, I’m thankful for all of those service men and women who have given their lives to protect our country and the lifestyle we enjoy. When I hear about the wars that are raging overseas, it makes me even more grateful that it’s not happening here. On the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne is the inscription “Greater love hath no man” (King James Bible, John 15:13) and I’ve seen on other smaller memorials “Greater love hath no man than this, to lay down his life for his country” and for me, that’s what I think about at the parades and ceremonies held across the nation to commemorate this day – these people love us and this country so much that they were and are willing to give up their lives for us and for it.
Tomorrow will be an ANZAC Day like no other. All across the nation, instead of attending ceremonies or having parades through the streets, people will be standing in their driveways or on their balconies at 6am with a candle, for a minute’s silence to commemorate those they know, and those they don’t know, who have given their lives to defending our freedom. Will you be one of them?
If you’d like to learn more about the ANZACs, check out our library collection.
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