Yep by my Calendar it's that day... (and my calendar has some "little known holidays on it :))  It's Hug an Australian Day ..

So all you guys Down Under I'm sending you a HUG via the Internet. Sure can't let this holiday go to waste now can we..  Luv all of you,...   :-* :-*

Thanks, Babs, and it really is a special day on our calander. We know it as ANZAC Day which refers to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who have fought with such distinction for so long

We pin our medals on and march to remember our mates who made this land so great, but who never came home.

They shall grow not old,
As we who 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.

Well special hugs to ya.. it is a special day all around..  :-*

ANZAC day is a very special day for all of us in this corner of the world.

From the Wikipedia page:


Quote:

ANZACDay is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that broadly commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders "who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations" and "the contribution and suffering of all those who have served." Originally 25 April every year was to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. Anzac Day is also observed in the Cook Islands, Niue, Pitcairn Islands, and Tonga.

It is our equivalent of Remembrance Day in the US and Canada and Remembrance Sunday in the UK.

I note ANZAC day every year with gratitude.  Your men were in N Africa fighting Rommel's tanks with rifles and small arms as cannon fodder for the British leaving Australia nearly defenseless against the Japanese.  Australia and New Zealand were vital allies to the US during the war, and were gracious hosts to our Marines and Soldiers when they were marshalled there. 

Jerry

I've seen where the US Marines first landed in NZ, at the waterfront in Wellington. I've also seen in the north of the country where they made huge improvements, building or extending roads, bridges and other works to help defend the country.

From what I can tell there were up to 100,000 US Marines here and for many it was their last friendly port before setting off on the island hopping, with many not surviving.

I remember the Australian soldiers in Vietnam back in '68. Great bunch of guys. The thing I remember most was never try to out-drink the Aussies. They would come to our EM club and and drink all the piss (or whatever else they called it) they could get.
Happy holiday to all the vets down under.