The Tuesday before ANZAC day the school had an assembly. EL and I were able to attend and learn a little more about this day. There was no clapping allowed during the assembly. Not after performances or speeches. None. Each class made a flower wreath and placed it on the ANZAC Memorial in the garden. A student played the bugle. It was really neat to experience and learn more about this country's history.
Here is the speech that was given by a father of one of the students.
ANZAC Day is for all Australians, regardless of religion, race, or even place of birth. It is not a festival or celebration but rather a day of reflection, of gratitude, and a day to commemorate the bravery and self-sacrifice of past and present generations. It has become much larger than the men who first strode ashore the Gallipoli Peninsula that day on April 25, 1915, from whom we draw the term ANZAC.
I wonder if those men would marvel to learn that their actions during that campaign have come to signify courage, selflessness, loyalty, perseverance, and mateship- all things we revere today.
ANZAC Day is a day to acknowledge the great deeds of the past- stories of heroics and courage. Of men and women who were prepared to give all in the service of their fellow Australians and the generations to come. ANZAC Day is for us a chance to honour those sacrifices.
On this ANZAC Day, we commemorate the sacrifices of those who were prepared to lay down their lives in defence of our way of life. We recognise and thank those who served, and who continue to serve our country in the cause of freedom and democracy.
ANZAC Day is not for honoring war, for war itself is not something to be honored. It is a day to honour the ordinary men and women- parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters, cousins, etc. Ordinary people who found themselves in extraordinary circumstances.
In his book titled 'The Long Green Shore' written about our soldiers in Papua New Guinea, author John Hepworht wrote:
'They pinned no medals on him, they made no speeches, we need no medals or speeches, we know him and remember. He was just a good, ordinary bloke- that's the point- that's an important thing- he was an ordinary bloke like you and me.'
In our school's atelier of history is an honour board upon which are found 10 names of former students of this school. As children they played in the same playgrounds you play in today, an they learned to read, write, and spell in the same classrooms as well. As adults they left behind families and lands........... Some returned, while some never made it home.
On ANZAC Day, we honour these former students, along with all the other ordinary people of Australia, both men and women, who have carried out extraordinary deeds in defence of the ideals of freedom and democracy we hold so dear.
You, boys and girls, are the rising generation. The spirit of ANZAC will be entrusted to your care. To nurture and to grow. Your gratitude to those who served, including those who came from this very school can best be shown in the choices you make.
Lest we forget.
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