Well, we're into a new year and once again April 25, ANZAC Day is soon to be upon us.

Each passing ANZAC Day, I wonder whether we're really paying the form of profound respect for this special day, that we're supposed too.

To me at least, we seem to be drifting inexorably toward a day more for celebration, almost a carnival atmosphere. Rather than engaging in a quiet, more reflective veneration for the many servicemen and women who never came home.

We see the various parades in our cities and towns getting larger, yet the number of eligible Veterans marching, are significantly decreasing. This is despite the supplications of the State RSL Branch's, imploring those people who are so engaged, not to do so.

Perhaps I'm wrong, very wrong. Is it a day for celebration ? Or should it be eternally consigned to that, of a day for fervent and deep reverence. Or, could it be both ?

We have attended the Dawn service at the War Memorial here in
Melbourne for a couple of years. It was very moving. The last post
being played brought chiils down my spine. I don't think that
this should be a time for celebration. It should be a time
for reflection, Thanks, and hope, that we don't have another
war in our future. We owe a debt to those who gave their lives.
We can only hope that no one will have to do so again - for this
country.

Dear Lexi, 

The Melbourne dawn service is indeed special. We would make our way up as a family from South Melbourne and I especially found the subdued crowds walking quietly toward the shrine quite moving.

I remember being fearful the service after the Cronulla Riots we might have seen some unwelcome displays of ultra-nationalism but recall only seeing one flag draped 'Cronulla Style' around a youth and even he removed it when we got close.

I am growing to accept the changes this generation are making toward the occasion. I'm not entirely comfortable with it but it could be age related.

To travel through the small country towns and see how many young men the First World War stripped from those communities is sobering.

And because our fallen lay often in mass graves in far off lands these simple shrines were the only physical place people could go the remember them, a tomb stone for all those inscribed there on.

The ANZAC day speeches between the wars were about the futility and cost of conflict. The nationalism and celebration is more a recent part of the day.

Yet if this means those shrines are remembered,  respected and cared for into the future I will live with any misgivings.

<< Is it a day for celebration ? Or should it be eternally consigned to that, of a day for fervent and deep reverence. Or, could it be both ? >>

O sung wu, I think both. Well, not so much a celebration as a day of happy commemoration. If it has a celebratory atmosphere which draws in young people, that can only be a good thing, I think.

If it does get a little inappropriately too celebratory, well, no big deal, if it is attracting lots of young folk.

They are getting involved and learning about our national history and our war heroes. And that has got to be a whole lot better than some stodgy old banal parade that is a complete anathema to younger generations.

It’s all good. In fact it is wonderful that ANZAC day is such a big event on our national calendar.

celibration..hardly
more like sell flags and inebriation

celibrate war?
celibrate what..sending children to die in futile wars
so wealthy people can gain rebuilding contracts

walk arround the canberra memorials someday
in the dark of night..they are stages..to sepperate follies
but someone got good cash to put them up[soon they will get a blwer cleanup

be seen on the news..then return back to
their totum-istic yelling..into the emtyness
just like the lost children..blown into bits..in futile wars

buried in other lands
while memorialised in concrete and stainless steel
gravel and dirt..ammoung the gum trees..of canberra's memorabilia to murder.

if its killing..by order
its still murder

think how you explain to god
the taking of an others life?

celab-ration?
yea right

an excuse for a bbq
and a little bit of overtaxed grog
nice colours..neat mind numbing music
now go off wit ya..[private/grunt]..go off an die..[its easy if you try]

if the bullits didnt get ya[ww1]
the birdflue did..trenchrot..its great mate
see the world..through a mist of agent orange..

sellibration
not till govt..fixes all outstanding debts
so many killed..preparing for war..[and govt tells them]..go away

everything from f111 fueltanks poisenings
to mustard gas..to naplam...to nuke testing
payup..govt

pay the rent
how many more must die..betrayed by their own govt

o sung wo Gday, it never was a day of celebration.
Remembrance is the term.
Csteele, well you had to introduce one side of the Cronulla thing, I am not surprised.
It and indeed the wearing of our flag around the shoulders has nothing to do with this day.
What is it about that ? why is it unlike the Lebanese flag on cars?
My t shirts have part of our flag, America wears shorts shirts and even shoes with its flag.
Tennis matches see migrants, well third generation ,wear other country's flags,and fight in the stands.
Do not single my country out for being as EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD IS.
ANZAC day will not see me ringing Bells blowing Whistles.
It will see quite contemplation of those who died, those who wish they had,
and just what this country would have been if all the dead war victims had lived to make it greater.
I value Migration, and am sure and certain, most migrants value this country and the things that bought them here.
I find it impossible,totally, to ignore manufactured links to the mentioned event and this day of remembrance.