And, unsurprisingly, there was a much larger crowd than normal at the Dawn Service. It was a lovely morning: very clear and very cold. It’s always moving when a large crowd is completely still and silent, even if only for a minute.
My parents visited years ago and were lucky enough to be there for Anzac Day. I know Pop got up super-early and was there for the dawn service and found it very moving.
Thanks to all for their service
Well! I’m tempted to move this thread to the PIT!
Just watched the opening stuff for the AFL ANZAC DAY game today (it’s always Essendon vs Collingwood, TRADITION yannow) and was moved to tears with the singing of the NZ anthem by some gorgeous fella. 
So then the Aussie national anthem…and only half the footy players assembled on the oval at the MCG could be buggered even mouthing the words. What? WHAT?? It’s freakin’ ANZAC day boys, and the Centenary of the Gallipoli invasion. You can’t muster enough enthusiasm to sing the anthem on THIS DAY??
Scrungy, self-entitled little bastards. 
Naughty boys - they should certainly know the words. The situation was better at the Gallipoli Dawn Service where Tony Abbott was singing our anthem with gusto, but John Key was close-lipped throughout God Defend New Zealand.
All the Anzac parades are over here now, which is good because a large thunder/hail storm just came through.
From a kindred spirit. I’m thousands miles away in the USA but need to let you know - those are some brave soldiers.
No, not just naughty, TOTALLY unacceptable on today of all days Cuncs. 
I’m not a terribly patriotic person at the best of times. And I do believe that the Gallipoli anniversary this year has been hijacked by those who want to make $ (yeah, I’m looking at YOU RSL and LEGACY and all the hangers-on who know how to manipulate the public into believing in The Cause).
Regardless of that, it IS the anniversary of a pivotal date in Australia’s psyche. It might not be expected of me to buy a CD of some fucker singing horrid war-songs, or knitting a freaking poppy to add to the other 200,000 anonymous ones, but it DOES behoove me to be polite to those who are commemorating this event.
Being a footy player, given the opportunity they have to play today and with such a big audience, it behooves them MORE to be thankful for the sacrifices their great-grandfathers made.
Still not happy
Sorry, I was being a bit flippant. I do agree with you. There’s no excuse for their not knowing the words of the anthem.
…some photos I took from yesterday and today.
100 years on. The comradeship of the Australians, Kiwis and Indians at Anzac Cove, the sacrifices of the French and English at the landing at Helles.
Naturally, not all who fought there were able to march in the parades. Two of my great uncles later never returned from France.
And the brave Turks.
It is unspeakably sad.