remnantprep
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Post by remnantprep on Mar 29, 2017 10:32:51 GMT 10
Anzac Day is fast approaching! How do you spend the day? Do you go to the dawn service? Have a beer with the diggers? Play 2 up etc? I try to go to the main service, shed a tear when diggers go past and clap as hard as I can and go for a drink after at the RSL.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2017 22:04:42 GMT 10
We always try to do a dawn service but not always possible. Last few years my son has done night honor guard duty with his Scout troop at the local memorial but as he is no longer in Scouts we will be planning on the dawn service at Kings Park this year. Thanks to the sacrifices of those who have served, I consider myself lucky to have lived in a time without major conflict involving Oz however I will wear my fathers WW2 medals with pride while my son will wear his great grandfathers WW1 medals including DCM (Messines 1917) & MM (Hamel 1918)
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paranoia
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Post by paranoia on Mar 29, 2017 22:44:19 GMT 10
I've never been to an Anzac dawn service and that probably wont change this year. There's a high level of ambivalance about the whole thing that I doubt will be resolved in my lifetime. The blending of heritage and nationalism creates tensions to the point where it would never feel right. I'll spend a few hours in quiet reflecting on conflict and the world wars more broadly.
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remnantprep
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Post by remnantprep on Mar 30, 2017 6:54:55 GMT 10
Why ambivalence Paranoia? I don't go to honour the idea of war or nationalism but rather to honour the individual person who went through a horrific ordeal.
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australia
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Post by australia on Mar 30, 2017 21:22:49 GMT 10
I will be taking the usual camo uniform with mannequin and slouch hat from the collection to the local Kindy and school , and a spare slouch that the kids can touch / handle . Teach them young I say !
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paranoia
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Post by paranoia on Mar 30, 2017 21:58:17 GMT 10
It's not an issue of weather or not we're honoring war & nationalism but more about being appropriate.
To me ANZAC day is a day of rememberance and comiseration to those who served, suffered and died under the ANZAC banner, particularly in the first and second world wars.
The ANZAC dawn services are valuable ceremonies for those who want to pay their respects. All of my family were on the other side during these wars. I would feel very out of place at a dawn service and it would almost be disrespectful, to my mind. I wouldn't want to go for the spectacle of it or because it's the current trend.
This leads me to the issue of what anzac day and the dawn service is becomming. It's supposed to be a respectful comemoration of the Gallopoli landing. The rise of the flag-cape wearing anzac day 'supporter' who seems to turn it into a celebration concerns me and I wouldn't want to add to the problem.
Question: Are the people below attending a service or a sporting event?
I share sentiment with the following cartoons;
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remnantprep
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Post by remnantprep on Mar 31, 2017 10:31:35 GMT 10
Thanks for that Paranoia, I can see how it has become commercialised and why you would feel disrespectful to attend. For me though I go not draped in flags etc but to stand and honour the vets marching past. We can teach our children to show the right respect.
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Post by Peter on Mar 31, 2017 20:27:58 GMT 10
I make a point of spending time playing with the kids on ANZAC Day. Some years ago I saw someone berating a man for playing with his children on ANZAC Day, to which the father replied "what the hell do you think they fought for?" That shut the other guy up and always resonated with me. My kids are still young, but last year I was able to explain something of the meaning of ANZAC Day, and why it's important to remember what happened, and the people involved. This year I plan to take the discussion further. I also make a point each year of listening to "War Requiem" by Benjamin Britten. It's the single most powerful and profound piece of music I've ever heard, and is one of very few musical works to literally bring me to tears - if you hear the music and know the text (in Latin, with English inserts by the great war poet, Wilfred Owen), it is most profound, humbling, and moving. If you're interested, its story can be found at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_RequiemI listen to my CD set each year, but I'll chase up a link of the music with [English] text to share.
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VegHead
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Post by VegHead on Apr 1, 2017 18:06:45 GMT 10
I normally pull out my old uniform, look at it .. . then put it away again. And that's really about it for me. Some memories aren't for resurfacing.
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Post by SA Hunter on Apr 1, 2017 22:05:44 GMT 10
I make it a point to go every year - just to say "Thanks", and to keep the memory alive.
This year will be more sadder, as a mate ( ex 5/7 RAR ) gave up on life a few weeks ago. I'm going to honour his service to this Country.
I do agree that some make it an event ( like sports ), and that is wrong in my eyes. But, I think that this day has grown with the awareness of the past, and with the loss of life in Afghanistan, and the fewer and fewer diggers who are about now, people do treat the day with respect.
And for some, it is a time of healing - many years ago I was President of a small country RSL - it took years to get an ex Vietnam digger to come along to the day. He missed the morning Dawn Service, but rocked up for the morning events. He sat in his car, and cried for 30 min before he came inside. When he did, everyone, and I mean everyone, went to him, hugged him, and thanked him for his service. He proudly led the March later that morning.
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remnantprep
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Post by remnantprep on Apr 2, 2017 9:41:58 GMT 10
Oh Jay thats made me teary!! I am really loving hearing everyones perspective.
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bear508
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Post by bear508 on Apr 2, 2017 14:41:43 GMT 10
I miss the Dawn Service at the War Memorial in Canberra. It is amazing to be a part of. I now go down to the Fremantle service and would not miss an ANZAC Day. My biggest disappointment is the football that now gets played. It should be banned from ANZAC Day. Most people I know look forward to it because of the football and a day off, not ANZAC Day. I was only a RAAFie, so my time in does not really count and I know many serving RAAFies who would not get out of bed for the Dawn Service, so disappointing.
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Post by SA Hunter on Apr 2, 2017 19:30:25 GMT 10
I miss the Dawn Service at the War Memorial in Canberra. It is amazing to be a part of. I now go down to the Fremantle service and would not miss an ANZAC Day. My biggest disappointment is the football that now gets played. It should be banned from ANZAC Day. Most people I know look forward to it because of the football and a day off, not ANZAC Day. I was only a RAAFie, so my time in does not really count and I know many serving RAAFies who would not get out of bed for the Dawn Service, so disappointing. Wrong!!! You served, you count!!!!! Don't ever downplay what you did for this Country!! Whether front line soldier, to Admin, Q, Cook, Driver, and choko - all served and wore the flag, though the uniform was a little different. No matter what you did/do, your service is appreciated - yes, even you RAAFies!!!!!
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Post by Peter on Apr 2, 2017 19:40:21 GMT 10
I miss the Dawn Service at the War Memorial in Canberra. It is amazing to be a part of. I now go down to the Fremantle service and would not miss an ANZAC Day. My biggest disappointment is the football that now gets played. It should be banned from ANZAC Day. Most people I know look forward to it because of the football and a day off, not ANZAC Day. I was only a RAAFie, so my time in does not really count and I know many serving RAAFies who would not get out of bed for the Dawn Service, so disappointing. Wrong!!! You served, you count!!!!! Don't ever downplay what you did for this Country!! Whether front line soldier, to Admin, Q, Cook, Driver, and choko - all served and wore the flag, though the uniform was a little different. No matter what you did/do, your service is appreciated - yes, even you RAAFies!!!!! Um, what is a "choko"?
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remnantprep
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Post by remnantprep on Apr 2, 2017 19:49:29 GMT 10
Isnt choko a green veg that grows on a vine? Chocos on the other hand are Army Reservists! (I know I know my pedantic side is coming out again)
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Post by SA Hunter on Apr 2, 2017 19:51:22 GMT 10
Wrong!!! You served, you count!!!!! Don't ever downplay what you did for this Country!! Whether front line soldier, to Admin, Q, Cook, Driver, and choko - all served and wore the flag, though the uniform was a little different. No matter what you did/do, your service is appreciated - yes, even you RAAFies!!!!! Um, what is a "choko"? Reservist!!!!! They got the nickname "choko" meaning they melt away when the heat is on. This came from the Kokoda campaign when soldiers who were called up fell back under extreme Japanese attacks and pressure. For a long time there was the stigma that Reservists would melt away. But, history shows that in Papua they fought like tigers, but were poorly trained, led, and armed, against a formidable foe. ( Read "A Bastard of a Place", by Peter Brune). There are about 30,000 Reservists in the ADF - Army has the most, and many are currently on Operational duties - Border Protection up north, Solomon Islands, Middle East, Afghanistan & Iraq.
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Post by Peter on Apr 2, 2017 19:56:27 GMT 10
Thanks for clearing that up. Definitely folks worth honouring.
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VegHead
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Post by VegHead on Apr 2, 2017 19:56:46 GMT 10
We served and we what? Count? Not according to our government. Twenty fooking plus years of my life for what? Unrecognised war service because I served in submarines, and every fooking patrol was never counted NOR recorded. ! Can't even make a claim to DVA without having the inconvenience of travelling four hours to be interviewed by some nob who did three years as a bloody yahoo on ships and now reckons the world owes him a Kings ransom. Please, give me a beak.
Please Mods take my post down if it's considered offensive . . . The general populace just aren't aware.....
And you can shove Opsec as well with this rant!
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remnantprep
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Post by remnantprep on Apr 2, 2017 20:46:22 GMT 10
Not offensive at all Veghead but you do count to us!
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VegHead
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Post by VegHead on Apr 2, 2017 21:08:14 GMT 10
Thanks.
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