ANZAC stands for 'Australian and New Zealand Army Corps'. today is not the day to celebrate victories. Our young men and women, as part of our heritage, as colonies of the British Empire, answered the call to war, in support of the Commonwealth. Anzac Day marks the anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign in World War I (WWI). Over 10,000 ANZAC's died and 85,000 Turks.

Our men were warriors, and pioneers who valued freedom above comfort and security. Who faced hardship and danger. Their courage at Gallipoli gave Australians and New Zealanders (Kiwis), a national identity. It united us in loss and mourning. It united Maori and Pakeha in a way nothing else had, they served and died together. Charles Bean wasn't wrong when he wrote of the ANZAC's:

ANZAC stood, and still stands, for reckless valour in a good cause, for enterprise, resourcefulness, fidelity, comradeship, and endurance that will never own defeat.– Charles Bean.

It did not end in WWI. In WWII. NZ pilots flew over Britain in the greatest Aerial Battle of History, our boys were the best they had, and Kiwi, Air Chief Marshal, Sir Keith Rodney Park, GCB, KBE, MC & Bar, a WWI flying ace and WWII Royal Air Force commander, was in operational command, in charge of Air Defence, the Germans called him "the Defender of London". Our men fought valiantly against General Rommel in North Africa facing the best the Germans had. The famous Maori Battalion forged an outstanding reputation on the battlefields of Greece, Crete, Northern Africa and Italy. The ANZACs and ANZAC Day unite us, connecting us with a heritage in which we can be proud. Our Armed Forces continued to serve in wars and peace keeping situations throughout the world. Let us not forget their sacrifice and that of those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.