ANZAC DAY

This Friday after I got off the train n walking through the railway station foyer, I saw a women dressed in military uniform. She was smiling and just standing near the wall. Two men approached and gave her small money, and picked a small red paper poppie. In the Lambton Quay, again, I saw men and women wearing different but similar uniforms - some of them are old, maybe retired already - were distributing the paper poppies. I wondered what they were doing, then I realised. It was relating to Anzac Day!

What is Anzac Day? Anzac Day is one of New Zealand and Australia national public holiday. Anzac Day (every 25 April) is served as a day of commemoration for those who fought and lost their live for their country and to honour returned servicemen and women. Back to 1916, 25 April is observed as the anniversary of the landing of the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) in April 1915 - the soldiers were known as Anzacs - who fought at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I.

In New Zealand, Anzac Day is observed with remembrance services until 1 pm, followed by a relaxed holiday afternoon. Shops are close between dawn and dusk, and open afterward at 1 pm. There are dawn services in every city in New Zealand, held in local war memorial places. The commemorative services begin before dawn with marches through the city. This year 2009, the Anzac Day Wreathlaying Ceremony is held in National War Memorial, Wellington, with television covered of it.

The ceremony contains the following features : introduction, hymn, prayer, an address, laying of wreaths, recitation, the playing of "The Last Post" by a lone bugler, a minute of silence, "Reveille", and the playing of both New Zealand and Australian national anthems.

Anyway, I think Anzac Day is similar to heroes days or "Hari Pahlawan" in Indonesia. The Indonesian government has designated November 10th as a Heroes Day to honor those who died, mostly ill-equipped young men, in a clash against heavily armed British troops during their short-lived occupation following Indonesian independence.