ANZAC DAY

[T]

LEST WE FORGET

[Merrinator]

What she said. This is the most important day of the year for Aussies and Kiwis. It's the day we became a nation.

Regards,

Auburn on Merry's address

[Pete]

I could rant for ages about the signifigance of the Day, but I won't.
Anyone who has ever met any veterans and had a chance to chat with them about their experiences will know how important this Day is for us.
It's quite an irony (to me) that the Last Post gets played a lot on Anzac Day.
Every time the Last Post is sounded I get choked up, thinking of my Dad who passed away some 22 years ago now.
At his funeral the Last Post was played (he was a WW2 vet). Everyone was holding it together quite well UNTIL the Last Post was sounded. Then we all lost it, as it was played, knowing that the Last Post meant a hell of a lot to him.
God, I need a drink just thinking about it.

[T]

Its a haunting tune, one that is almost always guarenteed to bring tears to your eyes. More than any other day today is a day to remember what has been accomplished in the past and to remember those who gave their lives. Thats why I can't understand why anyone would grafetti a Memorial....

[Foriegnmariner]

I reckon this is one of the lowest acts ever in australian history.

Anzac vandals need 'kick up the backside'

THE vandals who painted the words "Anzacs are murderers" and peace signs all over a war memorial in the NSW town of Bathurst needed a "goood kick up the backside", Premier Morris Iemma said today.
Five teenage girls were arrested overnight, allegedly still covered in paint, after police were called to the carillion war memorial.

A 16-year-old girl was charged with maliciously damaging a shrine or war memorial and malicious damage to police property.

She was bailed to appear in Bathurst Children’s Court on May 28.

Four 15-year-old girls were released, to be dealt with under the Young Offenders Act .

Bathurst RSL honorary secretary Jim McFerran said more than 40 people, including RSL members, local army personnel, council workers, volunteer firefighters and a group of young men on their way home after a night out, worked all night to clean off the paint before today's Anzac dawn service.

Mr Iemma criticised the act of vandalism.


"They need a history lesson and a good kick up the backside as well," he said of the perpetrators on Macquarie radio.

NSW RSL president Don Rowe said the vandalism was "absolutely bloody terrible".

"They're stupid idiots," he said. "I hope someone gives them a good lesson in Australian history."

NSW Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell labelled it an act of stupidity.

"It's an incredible slap in the face for the people - who were probably not much older than the perpetrators - when they went overseas to fight for this country and keep democracy alive," he said.



To vandelise a war memorial on anzac day. how stupid no words can describe how stupid this is. should be sentanced to life in prison.

[~Floss~]

This is sad. I imagine these were young kids who thought they would be heroes for speaking out against war, but who don't completely understand the circumstances.

In more modern Australian history we have been involved in wars which some believe are only for political or financial gain. But if that's your view, your gripe is with the politicians, not the soldiers. Maybe this is where these girls got the idea it could be 'cool' to prostest against war on a day of rememberence and respect (how stupid)

Even still, the vast majority of Australians who have commited to fighting for their country (throughout history) have done so in situations where it was truly in defense of the nation, such as where Australia was under real and direct threat of invasion, and we wouldn't be here without them.

[thedoc]

foriegnmariner said:

Bathurst RSL honorary secretary Jim McFerran said more than 40 people, including RSL members, local army personnel, council workers, volunteer firefighters and a group of young men on their way home after a night out, worked all night to clean off the paint before today's Anzac dawn service.

I think it is great how Australians band together in times of need though. Like the guys on their way home from a night out mentioned in the story. Its stuff like that that makes me proud to be an Aussie! It also shows the respect that the majority (except for the little vandalist twits) hold for the Diggers.

[omni]

Yea I think it's absolutely superb that people would do that because of their pride about this day, it means a lot to all of us.