Blue and I always march on Anzac Day and attend the dawn service as well.
My grandson who is 10 and intelectually challenged asked if he could come with us this year. He has been reading up on Anzac Day and can tell you what it means and why.
He particularly asked to attend the dawn service as to him this is a very special part of the day because it was when the "kids went over the top".
There was some talk last year about not letting the young ones march. Well I for one along with Blue think this would be a big mistake as these "young" ones are the very same people who will carry on our traditions when we are gone.
My Connor will wear the medals of his great great uncle who was killed in New Guinea and march with such pride that I am sure my handkerchief will come in very handy.
He had Grandpa bring up on the internet where the uncle was killed and we were even able to find a picture of the cemetery in Lae where he is buried.
Don't discourage our kids, particularly if they show an interest in our traditions.
robell said
10:23 PM Apr 24, 2011
Couldn't agree more Ma, the kids are the future. Cheers Rob.
Helena said
07:02 AM Apr 25, 2011
agree wholeheartedly Ma. Helena
Yuglamron said
07:11 AM Apr 25, 2011
Hi Ma I am a Pom and a service brat too.
I hold dear the right of Everybody to march as a gift from all those who fought and all those who did not return.
Did they not fight and die to give us the freedom to live in a democracy and did they not fight and die for the right to live in a free society.
March with pride.
Wth admiration for your grandson.
Trevor
bill12 said
07:16 AM Apr 25, 2011
Just been to the dawn service on Magnetic is. , and its good to see all the kids turning up to honour the vets.Lets hope these kids don,t have to become vets themselves.Have to leave early as have to work.Will have a beer later in the day.Lest WE Forget.
Ma said
08:40 AM Apr 25, 2011
We went to the dawn service here in Ulladulla. What a turn out!!!
There were twice the number that they had expected and a good third of the 500 odd attendees were children.
We will head off shortly to Milton for the March.
Hope the rain holds off.
Gerty Dancer said
08:51 AM Apr 25, 2011
I agree Ma. Kids need to understand and respect those who did what their country asked. And is still asking.
Coming from a family where the last 4 generations have served, and one didnt come home, some have been damaged, I can only plead that we dont turn this into a thing where the kids grow up thinking war is great excitement and wanting to go to war too.
-- Edited by Gerty Dancer on Monday 25th of April 2011 12:36:14 PM
tezza said
09:25 AM Apr 25, 2011
Just back from dawn service in Mukinbudin. If the kids aren't encouraged to participate in another 20 years there will be no ANZAC day march.
Gerty Dancer said
12:35 PM Apr 25, 2011
I think there might be, Tezza, seems to be lots of young men and women going on active service still.
Kantiki said
01:19 PM Apr 25, 2011
Well said Ma. I have just taken my 3 grandchildren to watch thier uncle march in his first home town march. Apart from being very excited, they also listened quietly to the 92 year old veteran sitting next to us. He showed them his medals, explained what they were about and thanked them for coming to watch the march.
If we dont allow kids to march, with the obvious pride they do, what will happen when all the vets are gone. There is a time and place for everyone and we need to encourage the younger generations so they never forget what has happened before them. My son wil be going overseas in November. Im not looking forward that but I will always be very proud of him.
kandagal said
01:51 PM Apr 25, 2011
WE SHALL REMEMBER THEM My grandfather was at Gallipoli. So many young chaps put their age up to enable them to go. My grandfather put his age down by 10yrs so he could go.
Attended our parade here today - not many old soldiers left around here - few in vehicles, probably about 30 marchers - the local schools had good representation of children marching, which I thought was lovely - also the local Girl Guides, even our local pony club in recognition of the horse's role in war. It was lovely to see, and clap for these brave men and women.
HeadnHome said
03:56 PM Apr 25, 2011
Love to go to the Dawn Service, but I was in small town of Mt Surprise and they only had a service at 10am so attended that with my Mum & Dad, Dad served in Korea, they had a small but beautiful service, some locals and some visitors like ourselves, but we were made very welcome.
Cruising Granny said
08:05 PM Apr 25, 2011
The young generation should be educated about the tradition of ANZAC Day from the time they start school, and must be encouraged to carry it on. If they don't join the services they will certainly respect what it's all about. The emphasis in on "respect". Our troops are involved in wars and peace-keeping activities all the time, and in disaster recovery missions. Lest we all forget.
Smokeydk said
09:57 AM Apr 27, 2011
I was away over Easter............went to a dawn service..........few things I noticed was.....they had a highland Band playing in front of a March around the block where the service was .......primary children held the brigade banners in front of the WW2 diggers......there were prob over 40 men marching........what disappointed me was there was no vietnam diggers marching
the children were very active in the Service...reading history ..and singing.............the Service ended with the (scottish) lone piper playing on the hotel balcony..as the sun struck the WW1 Digger statue..in the middle of the Memorial Park
Well done I thought
Ma said
10:42 AM Apr 27, 2011
That brought the hairs up on the back of my neck Smokey. Good on them
Wombat 280 said
07:41 PM Apr 27, 2011
I think that attempt to ban the kids came from some old shell backs who tried in the 70's to ban Vietnam Vets from joining the RSL The widely held view back them was " If you didn't fight in the big ones" then you couldn't be seen as a true RSL member, this also applied to Korea Vets
Blue and I always march on Anzac Day and attend the dawn service as well.
My grandson who is 10 and intelectually challenged asked if he could come with us this year. He has been reading up on Anzac Day and can tell you what it means and why.
He particularly asked to attend the dawn service as to him this is a very special part of the day because it was when the "kids went over the top".
There was some talk last year about not letting the young ones march. Well I for one along with Blue think this would be a big mistake as these "young" ones are the very same people who will carry on our traditions when we are gone.
My Connor will wear the medals of his great great uncle who was killed in New Guinea and march with such pride that I am sure my handkerchief will come in very handy.
He had Grandpa bring up on the internet where the uncle was killed and we were even able to find a picture of the cemetery in Lae where he is buried.
Don't discourage our kids, particularly if they show an interest in our traditions.
I hold dear the right of Everybody to march as a gift from all those who fought and all those who did not return.
Did they not fight and die to give us the freedom to live in a democracy and did they not fight and die for the right to live in a free society.
March with pride.
Wth admiration for your grandson.
Trevor
We went to the dawn service here in Ulladulla. What a turn out!!!
There were twice the number that they had expected and a good third of the 500 odd attendees were children.
We will head off shortly to Milton for the March.
Hope the rain holds off.
I agree Ma. Kids need to understand and respect those who did what their country asked. And is still asking.
Coming from a family where the last 4 generations have served, and one didnt come home, some have been damaged, I can only plead that we dont turn this into a thing where the kids grow up thinking war is great excitement and wanting to go to war too.
-- Edited by Gerty Dancer on Monday 25th of April 2011 12:36:14 PM
Just back from dawn service in Mukinbudin. If the kids aren't encouraged to participate in another 20 years there will be no ANZAC day march.
If we dont allow kids to march, with the obvious pride they do, what will happen when all the vets are gone. There is a time and place for everyone and we need to encourage the younger generations so they never forget what has happened before them. My son wil be going overseas in November. Im not looking forward that but I will always be very proud of him.
My two very proud Aussie blokes.
Beautiful photos Ma.
Thanks for sharing them.
It was lovely to see, and clap for these brave men and women.
so attended that with my Mum & Dad, Dad served in Korea, they had a small but beautiful service,
some locals and some visitors like ourselves, but we were made very welcome.
If they don't join the services they will certainly respect what it's all about. The emphasis in on "respect".
Our troops are involved in wars and peace-keeping activities all the time, and in disaster recovery missions.
Lest we all forget.
the children were very active in the Service...reading history ..and singing.............the Service ended with the (scottish) lone piper playing on the hotel balcony..as the sun struck the WW1 Digger statue..in the middle of the Memorial Park
Well done I thought
That brought the hairs up on the back of my neck Smokey. Good on them
My view the more the merrier so bring em in