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Our Special Anzac Day Memories

Our Special Anzac Day Memories

I am sure we all have a ANZAC Day Memory that is special - I would like to share one of mine and hope other people can add theirs

This was 1993 - and such a day I have never forgotten and enjoy the memory not only on ANZAC Day but often

When I was young the Dawn Service at the Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance was only for men and women could not attend - but things changed and that glass ceiling had been shattered just that little bit and eventually I decided to attend

It was a clear morning when I got up and drove into the shrine - and although it was always easy to see that morning I found it in the dark - not flood-lit as usual.

I gathered with others for some warmth from the Eternal Flame and heard the old soldiers telling their stories - when one finished another started.

One of the took my arm and said "Come on lovey - I'll find us both a good spot where we can watch" - in the growing light I turned to him and realised he was blind and led him to one of the garden plots where he could sit - and I could stand and see everything above the crowd

I can't remember the service exactly - really caught up in my memories of my grandfathers - and the really sombre but beautiful atmosphere as the dawn slowly broke and Venus was bright and clear in the eastern sky that morning

Then it took a long time to walk through the shrine and drop our poppies into the urn - and finally outside into a brilliant day - from the shadow to the light. I spent the rest of the day driving around areas where I had grown up during my early childhood

We can't always visit the past and it's memories in person because of different circumstances in our own lives - this year - a global crisis has caused us to be social isolated.

We shall survive this crisis as we have survived many others - and our spirit shall continue

And we should share our stories too

I am not good at tagging as people know but I shall do my best

Dec

We shall remember them

@Zoe7 @Former-Member @Faith-and-Hope @Bunniekins @Snowie @Sans911 @Teej @utopia @BlueBay @TAB @MDT @Shaz51 @Adge @Ant7 @eth @Mazarita @Jo-anneJoy @NatureLover @JoJo73 @Maggie @Appleblossom @outlander and moderators

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In response to: Our Special Anzac Day Memories

Re: Our Special Anzac Day Memories

Yep @TAB we do have the "dont belong" in common.

There were a lot of Australian things I did not get, had to research when I had time from parenting to understand ...

@Former-MemberApparently the Melbourne Voyager sinking effected my father, losing a lot of people at once and feeling "survivor guilt". I still need to look at more of that stuff ... putting 2 and 2 together.

In response to: Re: Our Special Anzac Day Memories

Re: Our Special Anzac Day Memories

Yes thats very true @Appleblossom ... a lot of the survivors of the Voyager had that survivor guilt. Very sad.

In response to: Re: Our Special Anzac Day Memories

Re: Our Special Anzac Day Memories

@Former-Member

@Owlunar

Here is another version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg2DcZjG7fw

In response to: Our Special Anzac Day Memories

Re: Our Special Anzac Day Memories

I'd also say visiting Fromelles.
We went before the commonwealth war graves commission opened the cemetery. 2009 we saw it get constructed. It's such a lovely little French village with a cenatouph in the town square. The stuff of a country side dream. But also the site of pointless slaughter. I was 16 at the time. I had about 4 relatives who died in that war. Seeing their graves reminded me of it

In response to: Our Special Anzac Day Memories

Re: Our Special Anzac Day Memories

You're a Gem @Owlunar

sorry i am a bit late my second mum xoxo

my grandfather was in the war xx

In response to: Re: Our Special Anzac Day Memories

Re: Our Special Anzac Day Memories

Very poignant .. so sad, so young .. @Appleblossom Makes me cry every time I hear it.

In response to: Re: Our Special Anzac Day Memories

Re: Our Special Anzac Day Memories

Thanks @Appleblossom

That sounded fine but such a sad song - really - because it's true

Dec

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