Saturday 25 April 2015

ANZAC DAY (100th anniversary)

Hello Everyone! Today is a very special day for many New Zealanders and Australians. Today marks the 100th anniversary of our troops landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula in World War 1. Every year on the 25th of April people across the country commemorate all the soldiers that died and honour the servicemen and women who returned :) It's a huge part of NZ culture and a day of deep respect :-)
As part of ANZAC Day we wear red poppies, sometimes pinned on our clothes or I just put mine in my hair cos I'm fabulous >.< 
Here's a beautiful poem written by Major John McCrae in World War 1 after the death of his friend and fellow solider Alexis Helmer.

In Flanders Fields
By John McCrae
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row by row,

That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields

Take up your quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw 

The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

So I hope you all had a great day! I sung with my school choir at an ANZAC ceremony which was pretty fun :) It was the first time I went to an actual ANZAC ceremony so that was cool ;) Also I had Indian Takeout with my parents! Yum! I don't know why you needed to know that but you do now, so cheers to Indian Takeout!! ^.^ Until next time, farewell :P
-Lydia 

4 comments:

  1. Happy Anzac Day! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've been trying to figure out what the poem is saying. "To you from failing hands we throw the torch" it sounds like they (those who died) want you to carry on their mission or keep helping or something. Am I correct?
    It's a pretty poem, at any rate, and so is grace with that brilliantly red poppy.
    ~Gwen

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yes I was trying to figure that out as well :D I think your on the right track with that thought of the dead wanting to carry on the mission etc.. :) Thanks I thought the red went really awesome with colour of Casaleah (grace) hair :-*
    -Lydia

    ReplyDelete