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Duty.
The word might seem old-fashioned these days, in what can often feel like a me-first world.
It invokes a responsibility not just to ourselves, but to others. To do the right thing.
And it elicits the idea of sacrifice. After all, we don't need to promise to do the things we want to do – but to do the things we ought to do, even when we might prefer not to, or prefer to do something else.
Today is ANZAC Day.
It is the day, 111 years ago, that soldiers of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landed on a beach in Suvla Bay in the Dardanelles Strait. It was a strategic sea transport lane that the Allies were determined to keep open, and hopefully use as a prelude to capturing Istanbul, then known as Constantinople, the capital of the Ottoman Empire.
A day that would become immortalised in Australian and New Zealand history, and serve as our pre-eminent day of remembrance for all Australian and New Zealand soldiers, sailors and aviators, and those of our allies, who served, suffered and died in the service of our countries in wars and warlike conflicts.
Those who were doing their duty.
From the cities and the bush. Old and young. Black and white. Rich and poor. Volunteer and conscript.
They put on our nation's uniform and served their country faithfully.
Some did not return, and are buried in war graves, mostly overseas. We remember them today.
We also remember those who came home, but who returned with physical, mental and emotional injuries. Who left the war, but whom the war never left.
We remember those whose emotional injuries were so severe that ending their own lives was preferable to living with the pain.
They all did their duty, in our name.
We remember, because it is our duty.
Remembrance isn't about glorifying war. It's not about the conflicts themselves at all.
It is about those Australians, New Zealanders and those of our wartime allies who put themselves in harm's way because their country asked them to.
It is our responsibility – our duty – to pause and reflect. To remember.
Not just the gallant acts of incredible bravery. Though we remember them.
Not just the battles won against fierce odds. Though we remember them, too.
We remember the ordinary serviceman and woman who donned their uniform and followed orders, because that's what they were asked to do.
Who felt fear. Who knew horror. Who served with distinction and honour, even though at times they would have felt, with every fibre of their being, that they would rather have been anywhere else.
Who did their duty, simply because it was their duty, and they believed it was the right thing to do.
And that's why it's our duty to remember.
After the Ode of Remembrance is recited across the country at ANZAC services, today, attendees will observe a period of silence.
In the stillness, we will contemplate the sacrifices made by our service personnel. Our fellow Australians, who, in years past, did their duty. Often at great personal cost, some making the supreme sacrifice.
We will remember those who, often in the youthful prime of their lives, did their duty, regardless of that personal cost.
And so, we will do our duty. We will remember them.
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
