Anzac Day.

[kiwi mike]

Today, was a special day! Anzac Day. The oldest soldier, who was an Australlian, that 1914/18, died, 2005! He was only 16teen years old! Australia was a called a "Digger", and the New Zealander were called "Kiwi", but we are called both ANZAC. (Australlia & New Zealand Army Corm's).

Mr uncle Roy, born 1893, served as a soldier, 1n 1917. Roy was injured,(-very seriosly, a rifle butt-) at Egypt, and never served again! He died 1971.

As I said, A special day!! We have a lot to be thankful for!
The "Poppie" is a symbol of the Anzac's.

Miwi Mike

[Randy & Betty in Pa]

Hi Mike,

Like you I'm a veteran and appreciate your service to country... Here in the United States poppies are also distributed through the Veterans organizations in Rememberance, as are they also it the Royal Canadian Legion in Rememberance of fallen Comrades and I believe Flanders Fields....

May all our fallen brothers and Sisters in arms and service Rest in Peace...

Best to you and yours Mike...

R. from Pa

[Bat]

Sounds like ANZAC day is a blend of our Veterans Day and Memorial Day (which falls on the 30th of May--I never knew it was Memorial Day until I was at least 12...we always just called it the 30th of May in our family :confused: )

The Diggers and the Kiwis are brave and good lads! I know we appreciated them during WWII in the South Pacific!

[hoops]

God bless the men and women who put their lives on the line for their beliefs, and so that others may have theirs
pax
hoops

[DaveM]

If you seek their monument, find a copy of Eric Bogle's "And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda".

May they rest in honor, every one.

[Dee]

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Canadians are asked to pause and remember the thousands of men and women who sacrificed their lives fighting for freedom and democracy during the First World War, the Second World War, the Korean War and during peacekeeping missions...

In 2004, Canada also remembered the 60th anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy, where Canadian troops suffered 18,444 casualties. Among them, 5021 were killed. Of all the divisions which formed part of the 21 Army Group, none suffered more casualties than the 3rd and 2nd Canadian.

It was a huge sacrifice – and a huge factor in turning the tide of the war against Hitler's Germany.

The first Remembrance Day, held in 1919 throughout the Commonwealth, was originally called Armistice Day. The day commemorated the end of the First World War on Monday, November 11, 1918, at 11 a.m.: the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

The Poppy

The association between the poppy and war dates back to the Napoleonic wars when a writer saw a field of poppies growing over the graves of fallen soldiers.

During the Battle of Ypres in 1915, Canadian Lt.-Col. John McCrae was inspired to write the poem In Flanders Fields on sighting the poppies growing beside a grave of a close friend who had died in battle.

The poem was a great inspiration in adopting the poppy as the Flower of Remembrance in Canada, France, the U.S, Britain and Commonwealth countries.

The first poppies were distributed in Canada in 1921. Today the volunteer donations from the distribution of millions of poppies is an important source of revenue for the Royal Canadian Legion that goes toward helping ex-servicemen and women buy food, and obtain shelter and medical attention.



In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

- John McCrae, 1915

[KiwiSoupGirl]

Thank you Mike for your salute to our "boys", and to you Dee! I never knew the significance of the poppy (I am ashamed to say) until I read your post.

I value our remembrances because they remind us of the losses of war - and the sadness that they bring. To the soldiers who fight bravely for their country (all sides), and to the families who lose sons, brothers, fathers, uncles, lovers, husbands. May the rest in peace always, with our love alongside.

[Dee]

You're welcome KSG,

Every year during the weeks leading up to Remembrance Day, you can find vets from our Royal Canadian Legion selling these little red poppies in virtually every shopping mall here. They have a stick pin in them so you can wear them on your shirt or jacket.

I always make a point to stop and chat a while, or at least make sure to tell them "thank you" for their valour that helped to keep our country free.