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a2a Inspirations>
Lest we forget .....
April 25, 2005
This weeks "Inspiration" is perhaps better classified as a
"Reflection" .....
Today is ANZAC Day in Australia.
For those subscribers overseas I will simplify this by
explaining that this is Australia's day to commemorate
lives lost in any war but specifically the ANZACS in WWI.
ANZACS were Australian and New Zealand troops who fought
together as allies of the United Kingdom. The most famous
and most tragic battle of this war for us was in Gallipoli,
Turkey.
3 years ago my husband (who is a New Zealander) and I
traveled the world together for a year. We timed the start
of our trip so that we could be at Gallipoli on April 25th
to join the formal commemoration services held there at
Anzac Cove, the site of the ANZAC troops fatal dawn
landing. This experience was an amazing one for us, very
emotional, educational, and humbling. I had never been very
interested in war history so I was surprised at my
emotional responses during this visit.
Today as I recalled this experience I realised that perhaps
the most powerful learning for me at that time was that war
has two stories. I learnt the stories of the ANZACS and
also of the Turkish. Both suffered great loss and both
share tales of great courage and comraderie. I recall
shedding many tears whilst visiting Gallipoli ... tears for
the young Australians, tears for the young New Zealanders
and tears for the young Turks.
So today I reflected on current conflict in the world.
There are always two stories to be told. Human suffering
and loss is not specific to our own nation.
Lest we forget.
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