Anzac Day..

[Auzgurl]

I saw a boy marching, with medals on his chest,
He marched alongside diggers, marching six abreast,
He knew it was Anzac Day, he walked along with pride,
And did his best to keep in step with the diggers by his side.

And when the march was over the boy looked rather tired.
A digger said. "Whose medals son?" to which the boy replied,,
"They belong to my Dad, but he didn't come back.
He died up in New Guinea, up on the Kokoda Track".

The boy looked rather sad, and a tear came to his eye,
But the digger said, "Don't worry son, I'll tell you why,"
He said, "Your old am marched with us today, all the bloomin way,
All us diggers knew he was here, it's like that on Anzac Day.

The boy looked rather puzzled he didn't understand
But the digger went on talking, and started to wave his hand,
"For this great land we live in, there's a price we have to pay,
To keep Australia free, and fly our flag today.'

'Yeas we all love fun and merriment in this country where we live,
"But the price was that some soldier his precious life must give,
"For you to go to school, my son, and worship God at will.
"Somebody had to pay the price, so our diggers paid the bill."

"Your dad died for us my son for all things good and true.
"And I hope you can understand these words I've said to you".

The boy looked up at the digger and after a little while,
His face changed expression, and he said with a beautiful smile,
I know my dad marched here today, this our Anzac Day,
I know he did, I know he did. all the bloom'n way!"

[Auzgurl]

. .. Anzac Exchange
Sarge I think I'm buggered, I'm bitten on me back, a bloody snakes bin crawlin' thru the grass.
So call the Medic quick, to give me arm a prick, and take away the pain until I pass.

Yer mate the Bombardier, can have me 'ish' of beer, I won't be drinkin' Fosters when I go.
I've wrote me mum a note, and I've put it in me pack, she's livin' down near Kunga-munga-mo.

So tell me Aussie mates, youze Kiwi bloody skates, have caused the death of one of Anzac's finest.
And when I pass away, don't put me in the clay, the bloody dingos here are rife as goats.

What's that you bloody say, the choppers on its' way? it won't be here in time to save this Digger.
The Doc he said it's what? Now how did that get there? A tear tab from a beer can caused this wound?

Well, the pain will pass away, and I'll fight another day,
but PLEEZE youze Kiwi's keep this to yourselves!

.

[Auzgurl]

At the going down of the sun...
I crouched in a shallow trench on that hell of exposed beaches... steeply rising foothills bare of cover... a landscape pockmarked with war’s inevitable litter... piles of stores... equipment... ammunition... and the weird contortions of death sculptured in Australian flesh... I saw the going down of the sun on that first ANZAC Day... the chaotic maelstrom of Australia’s blooding.

I fought in the frozen mud of the Somme... in a blazing destroyer exploding on the North Sea... I fought on the perimeter at Tobruk... crashed in the flaming wreckage of a fighter in New Guinea... lived with the damned in the place cursed with the name Changi.

I was your mate... the kid across the street... the med. student at graduation... the mechanic in the corner garage... the baker who brought you bread... the gardener who cut your lawn... the clerk who sent your phone bill.

I was an Army private... a Naval commander... an Air Force bombardier. no man knows me... no name marks my tomb, for I am every Australian serviceman... I am the Unknown Soldier.

I died for a cause I held just in the service of my land... that you and yours may say in freedom... I am proud to be an Australian.

This hangs in the QLD State headquarters of the RSL. ^^

OK Im done now..

[Hebe]

Thanks guys. Especially my grandfathers who fought in France and Tobruk.

[JW Frogen]

Adolph Hitler wept.

[Jovial Monk]

And my greatuncle, died in the british part of the Dardanelle theatre.

[AiA in Atlanta]

Went to a food festival today and an Australian family who runs the Australian Bakery in Atlanta http://www.australianbakery.com/ was selling meat pies, etc. I enjoyed an Anzac Biscuit with my meat pie but found it to be more like an American cookie

[Rainbow Moonlight]

Its sad that good men died in dreadful circumstances carrying out useless unintelligent heartless commands that had nothing to do with Australia's defence. It is sad how war pulls apart families and ruins men's lives and how communities don't take care of returned soldiers. Some men did die in defence of Australia. That is sad too. To do so was perhaps noble, and some may argue it was necessary.

I don't see a great deal of nobility in war.

[Jovial Monk]

Went to a food festival today and an Australian family who runs the Australian Bakery in Atlanta http://www.australianbakery.com/ was selling meat pies, etc. I enjoyed an Anzac Biscuit with my meat pie but found it to be more like an American cookie

I usually eat a biscuit/cookie AFTER I have eaten my meat pie, not with.

What about some okra recipes, AiA?

[AiA in Atlanta]

Went to a food festival today and an Australian family who runs the Australian Bakery in Atlanta http://www.australianbakery.com/ was selling meat pies, etc. I enjoyed an Anzac Biscuit with my meat pie but found it to be more like an American cookie

I usually eat a biscuit/cookie AFTER I have eaten my meat pie, not with.

What about some okra recipes, AiA?

Upon reflection it was eaten after the meat pie. Interesting enough, even though meat pies are mostly unknown in the USA, the ones cooked at the Australian Bakery are better than the ones in Australia.

See Food Thread for okra recipe. I also ate a Cajun alligator stew that day that had pieces of okra floating around in the mixture.