ANZAC Day 2006
I, along with many, many others, stood in the rain in Christchurch yesterday for the Dawn Service. I got drenched - so did my daughter, standing beside me - but we agreed that it was an honour to be there.
As a long-time reader of but first time contributer to these forums, I believe that this thread epitomises the freedoms our parents/grandparents/etc. fought for and died defending, so that we may have freedom of choice.
The following is displayed as a poster on my office wall. I do not know its origins, but like quotes above in this thread, I offer it as a tribute, not only to the ANZACs from all conflicts, but to ALL armed forces members who have served, are serving and will serve in the future to defend these freedoms.
FREEDOM
It is the soldier not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the soldier not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier not the union organiser,
who has given us freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier who salutes the flag,
who serves beneath the flag and,
whose coffin is draped by the flag,
who allows the protester to burn the flag.
LEST WE FORGET
So much of what we enjoy today we owe to those we remember and honour on ANZAC Day. Thank you, Woomera, for originating this thread.
Le Vieux
Last edited by Old 'Un; 27th Apr 2006 at 00:20.