Anzac Day 2008

25 April is Anzac (Australia & New Zealand Army Corps) Day. For you Americans out there, think Memorial Day. It's a day to remember the New Zealand and Australian soldiers who fought in the bloody & protracted battle in Gallipoli, Turkey during WWI. It has also become a day to remember Australian & New Zealand servicemen and women who have been fought in subsequent wars, most recently Afghanistan.

Our New Zealand friend Judi invited the four of us and Doug's parents to attend the morning ANZAC memorial service here in Queenstown with her. It started out with a parade, led by a bagpipe corps, from the waterfront war memorial to the town memorial hall. Military vets, active military, their spouses and widows, a few transport vehicles from WWII and, finally, us civilians, weaved our way through the closed main thoroughfares of Queenstown. In the town hall, the service was led by the head of the local veterans group, the mayor and a chaplain. Although we have no relatives who fought for Australia or New Zealand, the meaning of the memorial was very familiar to us Americans. The ANZACs have fought for many of the same causes as the Americans during the 20th & 21st centuries, including WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam and and Afghanistan. Australia, New Zealand & the US were geographically removed from these conflicts but they all took a stand against what they thought was right. The hymns and prayers were similar. Some of the songs were the same too, except they changed the words to "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" to something about "God Saving the Queen" ;-). After the wreaths and poppies (poppies are a symbol of Gallipoli where poppies flourished) were laid, the ceremony was concluded with the firing of a WWII-era canon.

Seeing the Australian and New Zealand veterans marching with their medals today helped make our emotional visit to Gallipoli seven months ago that more vivid in our memories. It's tough to know what's going on in the heads of kids, but I think Colin and Liam understood most of the messages they heard.