Two years ago, Lyle and I were in Darwin
for the ANZAC Day dawn service. The service was very moving. There is a strong
military presence in Darwin and the general population was out in droves. Later
in the morning the crowds showed up again to give a rousing cheer in
recognition of those who marched in the mile long ANZAC Day parade.
By the afternoon the bars were crowded and
so Lyle and I waited until the following day before going to the local RSL (Returned Servicemen’s Club) where we raised
a glass in honour of my dad. Dad was in the RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force)
in New Guinea in WWII. The troops sometimes came to Darwin for some R and R
time and the city was a special place for Dad.
In 2014, Lyle and I were in France for the
Villers-Bretonneux ANZAC Day service. In World War 1, Australians were
instrumental in saving this village from attack by the enemy. Each year the
people of the village remember this event with a dawn service to honour those
who fell in the siege.
This year, there won’t be any large
gatherings on ANZAC Day. This year we have all been called to a war of a
different kind. It is a global battle against an invisible but aggressive enemy.
As foot soldiers in the battle, we are called to stay at home and to keep a
social distance from others. It is a small role but if we all do our part we
can win the war.
If you would like to read more about Darwin
and Villers-Bretonneux on ANZAC Day, you can go to the archives of this blog by clicking on the links below:
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