Lest We Forget, Lest We Forget

ANZAC Day


Whenever I saw ANZAC Day on the calendar, I looked past it without knowing what it was. Now, I have a whole new appreciation for the day and the significance behind it.
Last Wednesday, April 25 is considered Australia's most important national occasion.  It marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The soldiers in those forces quickly became known as ANZACs, and the pride they took in that name continues to this day.
Because it is a public holiday, there are no classes so we were able to attend the ceremony and parade downtown Lismore. James Harvey, the international coordinator was taking students from Orion down to Molesworth Street where the parade took place. We stood there for about a half hour talking with the locals along the street. They all had different stories-some of them had family members in the parade and some had family members who had passed away in the war and they came every year to pay their respects. Some people were dressed casually and others were dressed to the nines in their uniforms and suits. Lining up for the parade reminded me of when my sister and I would bike down to where the Fourth of July Parade took place in Brookfield. I haven't really been to many parades since then, and it was a nice reminder of how they really bring the community together. 


The sound of bagpipes filled the air as the parade commenced, and cars slowly drove by with veterans waving out to the crowd. As anti-war as I am, I still find the men and women who serve in wars to be some of the most fascinating people to observe. They've been through things we can't even imagine, and yet they sit in the back seat of a car, smiling and waving as cute as can be. If they can learn to see happiness and joy in this world, there's hope for all of us who are going through a rough patch in life. I could sit for hours listening to their stories and the courageous acts they've endured. 

After all the cars went by, there were the battalions holding their flags proudly. My favorite part was the many kids marching with their schools, which were mostly elementary-aged. In Australia, everyone has to wear uniforms through high school whether they're a private or public school. Some of the uniforms cracked me up with their high socks and adorable hats. After the parade, we found a spot across the street in the Memorial Park where they held the ceremony itself. The captain of Lismore High School introduced the honorable soldiers and  many speeches were done. People from the crowd placed their wreaths of respect on the center sculpture of the WWI veterans, as they whispered prayers. It reminded me of our Veteran's Day in the States where we take the time to remember those who fight for our freedom. They seem a lot more serious about this day in particular though. Speaking of home, they had an American flag at the ceremony which took me by surprise in a way. I've never had an overwhelming sense of patriotism to America, but I've realized that living in another country has made me grateful for where I've come from. I expected the opposite to happen, but it feels good to get a more holistic opinion of America after being here for a while. As all the serious, quiet proceedings were taking place, I was standing next to a couple with two little kids that wouldn't stop asking when they could leave. 

Usually I'd be annoyed at this interruption, but they were the most adorable kids, with their little Aussie hats and flags. One of them starting crying and screaming and the next thing I know, the mom was breastfeeding right there. It was quite amazing to be honest...gotta' do what you gotta' do!! After the wreaths were laid, we sang a few songs as a group. One of for Queen Elizabeth, one for the Armed Forces, Peace and the Nation. Lastly we sung the first verse of the National Anthem, because apparently I found out later that no one really knows the second verse. That's a huge difference between Americans and Australians I've realized. We pump the National Anthem into every event we can, whether it's a little league baseball game or a professional football game. Here, they rarely sing it, and they have had many changes to what their official National Anthem actually is. In fact, there are many different takes on the National Anthem and people openly come up with their own version and post it on Youtube. I can't see that happening in America without some serious judgements. After the beautiful ceremony, we talked to a few of the community members and headed back to the shuttle for Orion. 


An upbeat turn took place when we got back to Orion and all the Aussie's were drinking and celebrating the day, even though they specifically say it's not a day they "celebrate." It's merely a day of remembering. (Although I'm not sure how much of the day they'd remember after all the alcohol they consume.) One interesting part of ANZAC day is that the game Two-Up is legal only on this day. Two-Up is a gambling game they played during the war, that designates a Spinner to flip a coin. People stand around and make bets on whether it lands on heads or tails and that's about it! Some of the Americans participated in the game held downtown and lost quite a bit of money because there really is no skill to the game. (Unless of course you are psychic.) 
Since we had to classes to attend, and the sun was out for ONCE, I sat by the Orion pool all afternoon with a group of friends. 
I love that I was able to experience of one of Australia's most significant national events in person today.