April 25th 2009, ANZAC Day - Lest We Forget

**Red Rider** · April 24, 2009, 10:45 PM

Today is a significant day for Australia and New Zealand, as it marks 94 years since Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landed at Gallipoli and began the ANZAC legend. This day is not only a day to remember all those lost at the landing at Gallipoli, but to remember all Australian and New Zealand soldiers who fought in any war in our short histories, as well as to pay our respects to all soldiers who served in any war, regardless of race or nationality. Today we remember the sacrifice given by Australians and New Zealanders who fought for their beliefs, who fought for their country and who fought for themselves. Today is not a day to glorify war, or to assert a soldier's character above a civilians, or once race, or one nation, or one religion above another; today is a day to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice and stood strong in the face of adversity. The ANZAC legend retells the stories of those who, by their deeds, proved that real nobility and grandeur belongs, not to empires and nations, but to the people on whom they, in the last resort, always depend. It was a lesson about ordinary people – and the lesson was that they were not ordinary. On all sides they were the heroes of that war; not the generals and the politicians but the soldiers and sailors and nurses – those who taught us to endure hardship, to show courage, to be bold as well as resilient, to believe in ourselves, to stick together.
That is surely at the heart of the ANZAC story, the legend which emerged from that day of April 25th, 1915. It is a legend not of sweeping military victories so much as triumphs against the odds, of courage and ingenuity in adversity. It is a legend of free and independent spirits whose discipline derived less from military formalities and customs than from the bonds of mateship and the demands of necessity.

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.

**Crimson Scythe** · April 24, 2009, 11:00 PM

My deepest respects to all of the fallen, some of my own relatives among them. I hope the friendship all their sacrifices produced never fades.

**Red Rider** · April 24, 2009, 11:36 PM

Thankyou friend. I also pay my respects to your relatives on this day. I also hope that this friendship never fades.

**boofhead** · April 25, 2009, 12:34 AM

Ditto.

**Pious Agnost** · April 25, 2009, 12:41 AM

You know it's not just AAC... New Zealanders died there too

**Stavroforos** · April 25, 2009, 12:46 AM

RIP fallen ANZACs and Aussie soldiers everywhere.

Now get those Anzac cookies ready.

**B5C** · April 25, 2009, 01:05 AM

To honor that day I show off Sabaton's "Cliffs Of Gallipoli" in honor of that day.

Remember the fallen of the allies and the axis.

Turkey, Britian, Austrailia, New Zealand, Newfoundland, and Germany.

**Red Rider** · April 25, 2009, 01:41 AM

You know it's not just AAC... New Zealanders died there too

My apologies, I will edit my first post. Sorry if I offended you.

**Pious Agnost** · April 25, 2009, 01:44 AM

It's alright, just lock your doors

The sad thing is we're getting used to it

**Keravnos** · April 25, 2009, 02:10 AM

Honor to those who fought for their country.

**John I Tzimisces** · April 25, 2009, 02:31 AM

My professor for my greek/roman epic class showed us today a special website that ABC made for gallipoli (that he thought was a modernish version of epic storytelling...etc). Just do a search and you could find it (ABC Gallipoli or somesuch), it's quite nice...

**Primvs Sextvs Loverlord** · April 25, 2009, 02:36 AM

I salute the gallantry of the men that fought in that brutal battle.

**persianfan247** · April 25, 2009, 03:16 AM

I show my respects as a New Zealander

**dogukan** · April 25, 2009, 03:54 AM

and here is a classic quote from Atatürk

Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives. You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours.. You the mothers who sent their sons from far away countries wipe away your tears. Your sons are now living in our bosom and are in peace. Having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well.

**Pious Agnost** · April 25, 2009, 04:00 AM

In my huff I forgot to respect ANZAC day

To my countrymen, the allied Aussies and the gracious Turks.
A cup of tea shall have to do

**Carach** · April 25, 2009, 08:59 AM

Originally Posted by dogukan

and here is a classic quote from Atatürk

Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives. You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours.. You the mothers who sent their sons from far away countries wipe away your tears. Your sons are now living in our bosom and are in peace. Having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well.

what a nice quote.

**Barry Goldwater** · April 25, 2009, 11:48 AM

**Lord Tomyris** · April 25, 2009, 11:55 AM

I salute the fallen as a Brit.

**Richard** · April 26, 2009, 01:20 AM

Originally Posted by dogukan

and here is a classic quote from Atatürk

Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives. You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours.. You the mothers who sent their sons from far away countries wipe away your tears. Your sons are now living in our bosom and are in peace. Having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well.

That is one of my favourite speeches. Very honourable.