Bay to Baghdad, Diggers done proud

The Australian ^ | 26th April 2007 | Stuart Rintoul

[naturalman1975]

A BAGPIPE plays Waltzing Matilda and the old soldiers step forward again. The streets are lined with people clapping, although their eyes search the ranks for veterans, rather than those who march to honour them.

From Byron Bay to Baghdad, it was a day for memories and mateship, hymns and morning prayer, but also a celebration of what it is to be Australian.

As the first rays of sun struggled to break through the clouds over Australia's most easterly point at Byron Bay, World War II veteran Ken Rogers, 85, traded memories with Vietnam veteran David Lawrence, 71. Mr Rogers said the one thing he remembered clearly was the day he was demobilised. "Everything else is a bit of a blur," he said. "But on that day, it was all over at last and we could go home."

At Byron Bay, the dawn service was attended by surfies in boardshorts and bare-footed hippies in sarongs and faded jeans. In Melbourne, the MCG filled for the now traditional AFL match between old foes Collingwood and Essendon. On the Gold Coast, the day began with a rock concert and if there was some consternation, it was not shared by former defence force chief Peter Cosgrove.

"When these questions get asked of me about whether an activity is appropriate on Anzac Day, I say what would the Diggers lying in their graves think," he said. "I always think that they would be quite happy if, after the observances and after the reverence shown through dawn services, and marches and services of the like, I'm sure they don't want Australians to go indoors and stare at the curtains.

[xmission]

I’d like to thank all Australians here for your friendship, and help during these tough times.

[ThreePuttinDude]

Australian Brother:
Your troubles and our troubles are the same.
Your success and our success are the same.
We are all brothers in this War on Terror.

God Bless all of our Australian Brothers and Sisters.

[Moose4]

"I always think that they would be quite happy if, after the observances and after the reverence shown through dawn services, and marches and services of the like, I'm sure they don't want Australians to go indoors and stare at the curtains."

How can you not love a country that thinks like this?

Good on ya, ANZACs. From a grateful Yank.

}:-)4

[xJones]

I’d like to thank all Australians here for your friendship, and help during these tough times.

You said it just right!

[Chode]

thx Oz... i just hope they got the Memorial cleaned up before the service started.

[xmission]

Amen!