What Does It Mean To Be An ANZAC

What does ANZAC mean...

Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.

ANZAC is an acronym for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (pronounced Core), the soldiers who landed at Gallipoli on the Turkish Aegean coast on 25 April 1915, in World War I. This event was a terrible mistake which resulted in the completely unnecessary deaths of thousands of soldiers. The continuation of the war on the peninsula showed the incredible bravery of the ANZAC troops under the most appalling conditions.
ANZAC Day was originally a day of remembrance for the Australian and New Zealand soldiers who landed at Gallipoli on the 25th of April, 1915. The day commemorates the bravery and sacrifice of the thousands of men who died during the eight-month occupation of Gallipoli.
Subsequently, ANZAC Day is a national public holiday and has become a day of remembrance for all Australian and New Zealand soldiers who gave their lives in all wars. In Australia and New Zealand, ANZAC Day commemorations feature solemn "dawn services", a tradition started in Albany, Western Australia on 25 April 1923. These services are held at war memorials around both countries. Marches by veterans and family members of those who have died in past wars are held in capital cities and towns nationwide, as Australians and New Zealanders honor their brave Defense Force personnel.

What it means to be an ANZAC...

For Australians and New Zealanders, ANZAC means courage, loyalty and mateship; it stands for fighting for one's freedom and the freedom of one's fellow countrymen; it stands for resilience and persistence under the most horrible and hopeless of fighting conditions.

The ODE

"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 (in reply by everyone)

The "Ode of Remembrance" is an ode taken from Laurence Binyon's poem, "For the Fallen" and is regularly recited at memorial services held on days commemorating World War I, such as ANZAC Day, Remembrance Day, and Remembrance Sunday. In Australia's Returned and Services Leagues (RSL's), and in New Zealand's numerous Returned Services Associations (RSA's), it is read out nightly at 7 p.m., followed by a minute's silence. A bugler playing the  "Last Post" almost always follows the Ode.

For The Fallen

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eyes, 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.
They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;

They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam


Leadership Sidebar: In Jim Collin's book "Good to Great" he cites humility, modesty and will as key characteristics of Good to Great Leaders. The hell that was Gallipoli produced many single acts of bravery and heroism, amongst them a kiwi signaler that produced a week of extraordinary devotion. A study of Corporal Cyril Bassett V.C. reveals one such leader who demonstrated these key characteristics. 

Sources: Internet