25 April 2008
My office at Australian National University
Acton, ACT
Image of Dawn Service at Australian War Memorial (~5.45a)
So today was another cold and dark morning as I rose at 4.30a to make the dawn service at the Australian War Memorial at 5.30a. Today is ANZAC Day – kind of like Memorial Day in the US it honors the armed services, in particular the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps that sacrificed so gloriously at Gallipoli in World War I. The service was a mix of prayers and hymns and eulogies of sorts.
What stood out the most was just the atmosphere – thousands of people in the dark with candles. And the lone bugler playing the “Last Post” – beautiful piece, followed by a moment of silence (well, almost – screeching cockatoos are inevitable at first light).
I’ll get the pictures to you soon.
