Anzac Remembrance

Today is Anzac Day here in Australia and New Zealand. Anzac stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. We commemorate and celebrate the sacrifice that Australians and New Zealanders have made in war on this date because it is the day that the ill-fated landing was made at Gallipoli in World War 1. The scenes of slaughter of the Anzacs that ensued, as they were cruelly mowed down, is regarded as the beginning of Australia’s journey towards real nationhood. It is seen as when we came of age as a nation.

For the first time today, we attended the dawn service at Sydney’s Cenotaph Memorial. We left home at 3am to catch the train into the city to attend the service starting at 4:30am. Apparently it always rains, and today it did also. Despite the rain though, it was a moving service. There is a march through the city later on, but we decided not to stay for that as it would be some hours in the rain before that even began. Another year.

Straight on the back of Easter, it has been an interesting time of remembrance of sacrifice. Over Easter we celebrated Christ’s sacrifice in death for us, his rising again and triumph over death, and the fact that through that we are saved by him.

I hope that Easter was a special time for you too.