Today is ANZAC Day here in Australia and back home in New Zealand. A.N.Z.A.C is an acronym for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, and the day commemorates the landing of this force in Gallipoli during The Great War. It now has expanded to be a day to remember those who have fallen in all wars, but with the focus remaining on Gallipoli.
I have always had an interest in the armed services, and I honestly think that had I not been a witness, there is a good chance I would be piloting an aircraft for Queen and Country right now. As ANZAC Day came and went each year I always wanted to go along to the commemorations to show my respects. Each year I felt a pang of guilt from my WT addled mind for wanting to 'glorify war' even though this day does not do that at all. It is a day where those who died are remmbered by their surviving families, and respect and recognition is shown to those who have served and still serve.
This year we are wide awake from the JW slumber, and for our long weekend we are out of town. So first time in my life I (with Mrs Smith) went along to the dawn service local to where we are staying. It was a moving experience, so respectful and full of deep, deep emotion. We shed a tear along with everyone else as we observed a moments silence.
So glad to experience this in person for the first time, and humbled to have been able to pay my respects.