Lest We Forget

This morning was a holiday, a three day weekend, a day off from work.

This morning I was up before dawn.

This morning I ran up to Kings Park, in the dark, rain threatening.

This morning I wasn't alone.

This morning I joined 40,000 other Western Australians up before dawn.

This morning I joined 40,000 standing in silence to remember.

This morning I joined in just one of the many  ANZAC dawn services around the country and around the world.

It's a strange feeling being surrounded by so many people and hearing almost silence. It was not somber, it was respectful. From very young children to aging veterans who have a bit more to remember.

The legend of Anzac was born on 25 April 1915, and was reaffirmed in eight months' fighting on Gallipoli. Although there was no military victory, the Australians displayed great courage, endurance, initiative, discipline, and mateship. Such qualities came to be seen as the Anzac spirit.

"The Gallipoli campaign was the beginning of true Australian nationhood. When Australia went to war in 1914, many white Australians believed that their Commonwealth had no history, that it was not yet a true nation, that its most glorious days still lay ahead of it. In this sense the Gallipoli campaign was a defining moment for Australia as a new nation, but also a key moment in the evolution of a particular image of Australian masculinity.

The major features of an ANZAC legend were discernible very early in the campaign: Australians were bold and ferocious in battle but were unwilling to bow to military discipline. An ANZAC never flinched - if he died it was with a joke, or a wry smile on his face - yet nor would he salute a superior officer....In the ANZAC legend, the Australian Imperial Force was a democratic organisation, in which there were friendly relations between officers and men, and anyone could rise from the ranks to a commission."

-Dr Frank Bongiorno, Senior Lecturer in History at the University of New England

As the morning light broke over the hills, the dignitaries lay their traditional ANZAC wreaths to a bagpiper's lament.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young, 

Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow, 

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted, 

They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: 

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn 

At the going down of the sun and in the morning 

We will remember them.

Lest we forget.