Attending the dawn parade on ANZAC day at the National War Memorial in Canberra,is one of the most moving experiences I have had.
People of all ages standing around in the pre-dawn darkness in sombre silence listening to the prayers and hymns, many with candles. People cough, babies whimper, but apart from these usual signs heard in large gathering, the children are relatively well behaved. It’s as if they can sense that this is a solemn gathering where they need to be on their best behaviour.
It is bitterly cold and misty, which adds to the bleakness of the gathering. The ceremony ends with a lone piper playing ‘The Last Post’ followed by Reveille, a fitting and eerie ending to the morning as the grey dawn breaks.
When it is over people stand around as if not wanting to break the power of the moment. But finally they start to wend their way down the Anzac parade between the monuments dedicated to the different corps and allied countries, back to their cars, many with tears in their eyes.
Most will return for the ANZAC parade later in the morning, to once again pay their respects to the soldiers from all the wars in which Australia has been involved over the years, The Second World War, The Korean War, The Vietnam War and countless others.
In the early days, the dawn ceremony was restricted to veterans to give the diggers quiet time to reflect on their fallen comrades. The day time ceremony was for families and the general public to attend pay homage to these brave men.
Now days more and more youngsters are encouraged to take part in the dawn ceremony as representatives of their grandfathers and fathers.
After the parade many will go to the local RSL, clubs and pubs for a few drinks and to play two up, an Aussie tradition. Some will just return home for cups of tea and Anzac biscuits.