Lest We Forget

Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that now broadly commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders “who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations” and “the contribution and suffering of all those who have served”.

ANZAC stands for Australia and New Zealand Army Corps.

April 25, Anzac Day, was the day the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey in 1915. The battle at Gallipoli lasted 8 months, with more than 11,000 ANZACS dying and 23,500 being wounded in battle.

25 April, was officially named ANZAC Day in 1916.
The first dawn service on an ANZAC Day was in 1923.

Rosemary is also traditionally worn on Anzac Day, and sometimes on Remembrance Day. Rosemary has particular significance for Australians as it is found growing wild on the Gallipoli peninsula.
Red Poppies have been used since 1921 to commemorate military personnel who have died in war.  They were among the first to flower in the devastated battlefields of northern France and Belgium in the First World War. In soldiers’ folklore, the vivid red of the poppy came from the blood of their comrades soaking the ground.

“we will remember them”