Anzac Day

My grandfather had fought in the Great War and my uncle, father's elder brother, was a Marine in WW11. He and his family emigrated to Australia as 'ten pound Poms' in the 50s.

His youngest, born there, treasured military mementos handed down and I remember being impressed at the significance they all placed on ANZAC Day. His son, from a very early age, joined the procession, proudly carrying medals and badges on a small padded cushion.

All this for father, grandfather and great grandfather, none of whom they had ever met, on the other side of the world.

Several years ago when I lived in Australia we went to see the Anzac Parade in our city. They all marched past, starting with the battalions who fought at Gallipoli in WW1. Is battalions the right word? Obviously it was only their standards, there is nobody left from that time. There were coaches in the parade that picked up the diggers who were to tired to keep walking, so that they could take part in the rest of the parade.

After an hour or so we walked home, put on the kettle and then put on the TV. The Parade was still going on. I've never forgotten that.

You post made me remember Eric Bogle's "And the band played Waltzing Matilda", nanna8. 🥹

Your fear is understandable because there is so much instability in the the world right now. There is a an uneasiness on a global scale to build up defences world wide because of the on going hostilities.
We just got out of a pandemic that none of us ever experienced in our lives and we got through it. We have to be optimistic that this situation does not escalate so it’s better to be armed than unarmed. In the hope that normality whatever that that is returns.