ANZAC Day is the Australia and New Zealand Memorial Day observation. Now honouring all who have served and sacrificed for these 2 nations, it originally commemorated the day in 1915 when troops from the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZACs) landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in World War I, which started an 8-month, bloody and deadly stalemate.
Also in April 1915, Dr. John McCrae was working in a British field hospital in Belgium. After a 17-day battle in which a friend lost his life, he wrote the poem, “In Flanders Fields,” from which poppies have become a British/Commonwealth symbol for dead soldiers.
You can learn more about the customary observation rituals by reading this article…it hardly needs to be said that this year is anything but customary, and all official ANZAC observations have been cancelled. However, many across the country will be standing in their driveways/outside their residences/on their balconies at dawn this morning making the traditional salute to fallen soldiers.
In honour of all who serve their countries in whatever capacity, I give you more poppy cards.
