Not a Hero?
The ANZAC Day march was over - the old Digger had done his best.
His body ached from marching - it was time to sit and rest.
He made his way to a park bench and sat with lowered head.
A young boy passing saw him - approached and politely said,
"Please sir do you mind if I ask you what the medals you wear are for?
Did you get them for being a hero, when fighting in a war?"
Startled, the old Digger moved over and beckoned the boy to sit.
Eagerly the lad accepted - he had not expected this!
"First of all I was not a hero," said the old Digger in solemn tone,
"But I served with many heroes, the ones that never came home.
So when you talk of heroes, it's important to understand,
The greatest of all heroes gave their lives defending this land.
"The medals are worn in their honour, as a symbol of respect.
All diggers wear them on ANZAC Day - it shows they don't forget."
The old digger then climbed to his feet and asked the boy to stand.
Carefully he removed the medals and placed them in his hand.
He told him he could keep them - to treasure throughout his life,
A legacy of a kind - left behind - paid for in sacrifice.
Overwhelmed the young boy was speechless - he couldn’t find words to say.
It was there the old Digger left him - going quietly on his way.
In the distance the young boy glimpsed him - saw him turn and wave goodbye.
Saddened he sat alone on the bench - tears welled in his eyes.
He never again saw him ever - but still remembers with pride,
When the old Digger told him of Heroes and a young boy sat and cried.
Clyde Hamilton
Yesterday was Anzac Day. Every year we go to our local council building, where we watch the parade and view the service. The parade not only includes the returned service men of the wars, but also the cadets of the Army and Navy and volunteer members of the emergency services.
I have been priveledged to march in this parade before, as an SES vol, and it truly is a great honour. I think I've been a part of the parade for maybe 3 or 4 yrs....several years ago now, along side my brother and my sister-in-law, fellow vols. Along with marching is also a lunch at thr RSL after, where you get to enjoy a free feed and drinkies.....something of which this classy chic always took too much advantage of! lol
Tyler hasn't been able to march, with limited funding, we get to participate if a uniform in store fits us....unfortunately for my tall hubby, he doesn't have a match. But he does attend the dawn service, in his orange overalls, and assists the many diggers that turn out in the early hours.
I didn't realise that this year, he had not only attended the dawn service and 2 prangs through the night, but had not had a barely a wink of sleep in between them all! So when I cuddled up to him and asked in my sucky voice if he could manage to drag himself outa bed to take his son to the parade.....I had no idea just what I was asking of him...he didn't tell me 'til the arvo how sleep deprived he was....agh the sacrifices!! ;)
Muma and Jack, watching the veterans march
Brass band
JackJack loved the vehicles!
The vehicles were shoffering the frail veterans. We learnt during the ceremony that our communities eldest veteran, who turned 100yo in january of this year, was to lead the march on horse back. Unfortunately, he passed away in february. 8(
For him, and all the other passed, missing, and fallen digger's, there sat an empty chair in the front row....to remind us of those that didn't make it.
Bag pipes
Veterans
Ahoy there Sailor!
It's really special when you see the youngen's help out their oldies ;)
Army cadets
CFA vols
SES Vols....I was shocked to see that out of all these members, I only knew one in the pack, 2 of the flag barers and the Controller....all others are after my time
Girl Guides bringing up the rear, behind SES
In my marching days, a few scottish vets marched behind us and joked about how many pints they'd have at the pub after the business end was over!
St John's Ambo.....we take a lot of vehicle pics now, for a car mad tot!
This year was the first year that we didn't have a family member participate in the march, so we took full advantage and went in closer on the action of the ceremony ;)
The Eternal Flame....which snuffed out after rains came over and smelt rather gasy :-0 Thankfully no smokers were near!
RAAF fighter pilots....JackJack squeeled "Skyyyy!!!!"
The ceremony
Every Anzac Day and Remembrance Day, particularly during the minute silence, I have always had flashes in my mind of soldiers on the battlefield. Now that I'm an adult, I am wondering....is it just because I am so engrossed in trying to empathise with what it must have been like, or.....could these flashes be even a past life experience? Maybe in a past life, I was a soldier at war?
This boy was a representative from McLelland College, he gave a passionate speech on the relevance of the Anzac meaning in his generation and the importance of keeping the memories alive of those that gave their lives for their country.
Tyler told me after that at the dawn service a girl from the same school recited a poem that she had written and that the digger's loved it so much that there was talk about getting it sent to Canberra to spread it through out the country!
Note, in the background, the sky is darkening...a storm is brewing! The years that I marched, we worked out that the weather had a pattern of every second year raining, the others fine....so wonder if next year will be sunny? ;)
JackJack spent much of the ceremony on the boob ;)
The rains are 'ere!
Ambo's, SES and Cops
Tyler goes to congratulate his fellow SES members on a great march
An elderly lady standing near us gave JackJack an Aussie flag!
Though he was tired so Muma did most of the waving ;)
So, remember I said that Tyler was all sleep deprived, but didn't tell me 'til the arvo?
Well, before we knew that, he took us on a drive down to Mornington, where we had some burgers and chippys in the car, while we watch the ships travel the bay ;)
JackJack trying to get a bite of Muma's burger!
Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine!
Feeding the seagulls
Outa the way birdies, JackJack's coming through!
And of course, you have to munch on anzac bikkies on Anzac Day!!
Muma and JackJack shoulda cook-cooked some, but Daddy bought a big container full from the supermarket....which we put on the coffee table, and as you can see, buba helped himself!! Cheeky boy! ;)
Lest We Forget.
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