ANZAC Day

[KB]

Among my many hobbies is playing for brass bands and today in Australia and New Zealand is ANZAC day where our nations stop to remember the service given by our forefathers to keep our countries free.

 

Today my band played in the dawn service in pouring rain, later we played in the day service again in pouring rain before getting an indoor gig at the RSL (Returned Services League).

 

Out of the 30 band people and supporters there not a single one complained as we are all too aware that so very many made the ultimate sacrifice to maintain our way of life.

 

In Flanders Fields

 

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks still bravely singing fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead: Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved: and now we lie
In Flanders fields!

Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you, from failing hands, we throw
The torch: be yours to hold it high
If ye break faith with us who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields

 

 

Ken

[kernow]

Thank you Ken for posting this. Many of us have family that fell during that era. My family included. It is so easy to forget. 

Living in Europe I have visited many  cemeteries in France and am always filled with horror and awe at the number of headstones there. Lest we forget. 

[KB]

I have many friends in service bands who actually play on ANZAC Day at many sites around the Western Front, they tell me that actually being there makes it all the more real.

 

Ken

[Sogeha]