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My wife teaches at the local Primary School and being a military officer, I have done the ANZAC things at her school over the past two years. This year I spoke to the school assembly...here is some of what I said...and, yes, I m passionate about it all! Being an Army chaplain (in training at the moment) we see a lot of the problems that deployments throw up for the military members and their families. So, I challenged the kids at Jan's school to remember on ANZAC Day for four reasons...
We remember for four reasons.
Firstly, we remember because we call to mind the 102,000 names on the poster behind me of Australians who went to fight and were killed in the line of duty. These men and women paid the ultimate price for the freedom we enjoy today – they gave their lives. They are worth remembering.
Secondly, we remember because we call to mind the tens of thousands of Australians who fought in those wars and did come home again – many wounded in their bodies and many in their minds. These men and women, like the men behind me today, answered the call and chose or were required to through national service to put themselves in harms way to protect their nation, their homes and their families. They are worth remembering.
Thirdly, we remember because we call to mind those Australian men and women serving today in the Navy, Army and Air Force around the world in Timor, the Solomons, Sinai, Afghanistan, and Iraq. They are far from their friends and families and again putting themselves in harms way, this time to not only protect our nation but to help other nations who are struggling to live lives as good as we do here in this country. They are worth remembering.
Finally, we remember because we call to mind the stupidity of war – the needless killing of other people; people who are just like us with mums and dads, brothers and sisters. As long as there are leaders of nations who think they can get their own way by using armed force we need to have a Defence Force, but ANZAC Day reminds us as people of the world to continue to work for peace and for the day when the last rifle, bomb or bullet is made. This is worth remembering.
Cheers,
John.
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