Notice that the Brits, Canadians and Aussies are strangely silent in this thread? Can somebody tell us the significance of Memorial Day or it's date?
I know LMT is a Canuck......but he's 'mericanized now.
Motley, in Australia and New Zealand, we commemorate those who have fought and died in the service of their country in all wars and conflicts, on ANZAC Day which falls on April 25 each year.
The acronym ANZAC originated in World War 1 at Gallipoli where many, many Australian and New Zealand troops were killed or injured in a bloody campaign fighting against the Turks. Thousands of Turkish troops were killed or injured as well before the British military generals realised it was a futile campaign and withdrew the ANZAC troops. Basically, it was a shumbles from start to finish, a crushing defeat. The British military of the day basically saw Aussie and Kiwi troops as cannon fodder and mounted this disasterous battle with very little thought or planning. Incredible acts of bravery and heroism were shown by the troops involved and thus the ANZAC traditon was born.
Although the ANZAC tradition started with the Gallipoli campaign, it has continued on through all subsequent wars and conflicts.
On Anzac Day in Australia & New Zealand, returned servicemen and women, as well as their decendants, gather at dawn services in cities and towns across the two countries and later march through the streets wearing their medals and carrying banners depicting their units. People still turn out in their thousands to take part in the rememberance services or to watch the marchers. It is interesting to note that in the big cities like Sydney, Melbourne etc., marchers in the parades include returned servicemen and women from countries once considered our enemies. Of course the numbers decrease every year but their memory will live on in their decendants.
What has become extremely popular in later years is for Aussies and Kiwis to travel to the shores of Gallipoli and take part in dawn services there, where it started.
I have attended many, many Anzac Day dawn services over the years and marched in the parades, either in an official capacity or not and the predominent underlying message at all those services, is to remember ALL servicemen/women of ALL nations who gave their lives in ALL wars. All prayers said at those services end with the words, "LEST WE FORGET".
So I hope this answers your question Motley as to an Aussie's slant on America's Memorial Day. I know the Brits have their own "Memorial Day" and celebrate in their own equally appropriate way.
I know for me, I haven't, until now, commented in this thread as I respect the rights of the US forum members to express their thoughts to their past and serving countrymen and women, in their OWN way, without an outsider's intrusion. IMO it's a personal thing and relevant to ones own country.
Personally, I would like to see a situation where there are no more wars, EVER, that produce
returned servicemen and women.
But until then, we will remember them.
