The hound joined in the applause too ... as only she can!

We attended a beautiful ANZAC Day service in the village today.  The service is always so moving, especially in a small village like ours.  There are still servicemen living here who served in the Second World War and returned.  The families of those who lost their lives partake in the service too ... wearing the medals of their fallen family members in their honour.  It’s a beautiful and poignant reminder of the sacrifice made by those serving in the Army Corps.

I’ve been asked by several friends in SA why NZ commemorates Remembrance Day on April 25 instead of November 11 like the rest of the world.  NZ does BOTH .... commemorating Armistice Day on 11th November and Anzac Day on 25th April, but only Anzac Day is a public holiday.

Anzac Day marks the anniversary of the first campaign that led to major casualties for Australian and New Zealand troops during the first World War.  30th April was the day news was received in NZ of the landing of the first troops on the Gallipoli peninsula in 1915.  The date 25th April was officially declared Anzac day in 1916.

The day now broadly commemorates ALL Australians and New Zealanders who served and died in all wars, conflicts and peace-keeping operations throughout the world, and the contribution of all those who suffered and served.

Paper poppies became part of the Anzac day commemorations by accident.  Poppies had been ordered for Armistice Day in 1921 but the ship that was delivering them was LATE.  The RSA (Returned Services Association) chose to keep them for the next commemorative service which happened to be Anzac day.  That date stuck as the new Poppy Day in New Zealand.

So there you have it.  The history of Anzac Day and the reason why we celebrate Poppy Day at the same time.

Most Anzac Day services are conducted at dawn ... something to do with the comradeship soldiers sought in those quiet peaceful moments before dawn, when in a war zone.  I can SO identify with that as I know how much I enjoy the serenity of my early morning rambles. I can only IMAGINE how the soldiers must have felt. 

Our village though now holds its service at 10am .... a much more civilized time of the day, particularly for the elderly.

It’s always well attended by the locals ... both young and old ... and their hounds!  We’d already walked the hound up to the view site and along the beach so she was quite happy to lie at our feet for the duration of the service.  It’s conducted at the memorial site in the village which is on the boardwalk just above the beach.  The Dignitaries get to sit down but us mere mortals have to stand up.

All went well until the end of the service when everyone applauded.  The hound chose to join in the applause too .... VERY vocally.  She WARBLED and HOWLED her appreciation, much to the amusement of those around us.

It was a wonderfully light-hearted end to a beautifully poignant memorial service.

Tonight's full moon