Today is one of the most solemn days in Australia’s calendar as it recalls the sacrifice made by our soldiers, sailors and airmen as they fought in all theatres of all wars to defend our country and the freedoms that we have always held dear.
Though the poem was not originally written about Australian forces, the words of Laurence Binyon’s “To the Fallen” have been adopted as ours and are no less appropriate now than they were when they were written. The particular verses that seem to ring true the most for us are..
“They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.
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.”
LEST WE FORGET