I attended the Anzac Day Dawn ceremony which began at 5.28am. Although it is called Anzac Day. It was not just Australians and New Zealanders who were killed and wounded at Gallipoli. There were other nations such as France and Great Britain.British India and New Foundland. It was only a few days ago I discovered that my grandad had been there (and came back ). He was with The Scottish Horse and was a sniper there. (he had been a game keeper so therefore was a good shot).
The ceremony did not glorify war.. nor should it. we all paid our respects to all the solidiers, men and women who have died in all the wars during the two minute silence. We also thought about the people in the helicopter who died the day before in New Zealand, and our thoughts go to their friends and family.
This is a link :
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8642536.stmQUOTE
Anzac Day helicopter crash kills three in New Zealand
The helicopter crashed in a rugged area north of Wellington
Three New Zealand air force staff have died after a military helicopter heading to an Anzac Day memorial service crashed near Wellington.
It came down in a rugged area north of the city before dawn, reports say.
A fourth member of the Royal New Zealand Air Force was seriously injured in the accident.
Thousands of people mark the anniversary of the World War I Anzac (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) landing at Gallipoli.
"I have received news that three members of the Royal New Zealand Air Force have lost their lives in a helicopter crash and that a fourth is seriously injured," New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said at a memorial service in Gallipoli.
"This tragedy is a stark reminder that our personnel still face great risks today as they serve their country."
Anzac Day commemmorates the bloody fight for the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey, which began on 25 April 1915.
More than 10,000 New Zealand and Australian servicemen were among some 100,000 soldiers who died in the failed eight-month campaign.
Australian services were also interrupted by an accident, when a World War II-era military lorry reportedly crashed into marchers at a Melbourne parade, injuring two elderly Veterans.
LEST WE FORGET!!
Anzac Day, Lest We Forget..
Apr 26 2010, 07:27 PM
