Getting Ready for the Dawn Service

Kev,
I have my grand fathers miniatures from my mothers side. He was a Grenadier guard who serviced with both the 1st and 8th army.
I have his full suit but I don't have his bears hat.
He was 6'6" 80kg wringing wet.
It was great to see so many Vietnam vets attend this service and marching. All the serviceman and women received the warmest reception.

Hi Kev
It would have made you feel very proud seeing you eldest wearing them, and given them ever more importance knowing that you were there with them

Cheers

Stephen

Stephen,

I am a bit sore now as the youngest (3 years old) wanted to march with me, which then involved me carrying her the whole way.
The eldest marched with her school and was very proud to tell her school friends that her minatures were her Dad's.

I just hope she doesn't want to follow in my footsteps and join, although deep down I would love to see one of them serving their country.

Cheers Kev

Hi Lionel
Yes, it is great to see the young children, which in turn will be our next generations to keep this most important tradition going.

Cheers

Stephen

I took my 5 year old son to his first Anzac day parade, where he proudly marched with his school.

It took some explaining as to what Anzac Day means, as his answer was "badges and pens" :-) (the primary school kids sell badges and pens to the Prep kids even though they don't quite grasp the whole concept of Anzac Day)

He kept mentioning Simpsons when asked what he was taught about Anzac Day at school, and after a quick lesson, i now understood they had been taught about John (Jack) Simpson Kirkpatrick and his donkey rather than Homer and Marge :-)

Lest we Forget.

Andrew

Hi Andrew
That is great. Your son will remember his first march for the rest of his life and the true meaning behind it. Lets hope that there are a lot more parents out there like you to pass on the meaning for future generations

Cheers

Stephen

Thanks for that Stephen.

Andrew

Andew,

I took Ashley (my eldest to the march last year) and for 12 months she was pestering me to do it again. Today she was even more excited to march with the school as a Prepy in uniform.

I just need to get another set of minatures made up for the youngest now :)

Cheers Kev

Was that in Calliope or Gladstone Kev?

It was a proud moment when Jai marched with his Prep class....all 2 of them. (we have a high transient population up here which leads to some issues with committment sometimes, though in this case there was about 84 Prep kids that could have marched)

He couldn't work out how so many "oldies" could fight in a war at their age. :-) boy, i have some explaining to do, might take me all year. :-)

Whilst i don't have any family connections with any war veterens, it was a great day to remember those who had taken the time to make our life better.

We have decided that we want to take our kids over to Gallipoli in the next couple of years and visit these sombre places. It sounds like a must-do trip overseas even though the kids are young.

Andrew

Calliope.........................I wouldn't get a taxi home from Gladstone hahaha

Hi Jon
The rain held off for the Service. Only started drizzling on the walk home. Once again, for the small population of Clare, less that 3000 people, there was a large crowd gathered of over 300 people to show their respects for all Australian War Campaigns, with lots of young people and Vietnam Vets as well. Hearing those special words of the Service makes us all very Proud of our Fore Bearers, knowing that those very young boys and men did their Nation Proud, and were only going a job that they all had no idea of the final consequences. I say young boys, as my Grandfather forged his parents signature to enlist and was only 17 when he left for his Service in the Middle East and Europe. He was one of the lucky ones and did return home, but would never talk of his experiences of what he saw or did over there. Before the last post, were the morning calls of Crows and Magpies in the trees near by, a fitting tribute to so many Australians that went to War and were never to return home and hear those truly Australian sounds again.

We will Remember Then


Stephen

Hi Axel
That is a realy great turnout, and something the town can be proud off.

Cheers

Stephen

Hi Hairy
It would have been a cool start to the day up on ANZAC Hill. I can just picture the sun coming over the Ranges and lots of proud people all paying their respects at a very special spot in The Alice.

Take Care

Stephen