Anzac Day

On this day in 1915, a group of volunteer Australian and New Zealand soldiers found themselves wading ashore before dawn at a small beach on the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey. Many of these men were only teenagers, some as young as 16. All were anxious to prove their courage and national identity. Over the eight months following the landing, those young ANZACs underwent a 'trial by ordeal'. In total 36,000 Australian and New Zealand soldiers were killed or wounded at Gallipoli.

Carolyn and I proudly marched with the MSB in the Anzac Parade in Melbourne. We did so to show respect for the Anzacs and to embrace this significant Australian day. By the way, the MSB marches very well. I'm told they looked good on TV too.

Tonight we joined with the Red Shield Sub-Branch R.S.L. "Anzac Salute" at the Inala Village Chapel. The Classic Brass were terrific from Box Hill Corps and the leaders and members of the Red Shield unit made the event worthwhile.

John 15:13 (NIV)
13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.