Label Inquiry ANZAC

ANZACs and Us

LI: Understand background information about ANZAC.

Most Anzac day services begin with a march of returned service personnel wearing shiny__ medals, and marching behind banners and standards. The veterans march  joined by other community groups, including members of the /armed forces, the Red Cross, cadets etc.

The march continues _to___ the local war memorial, where a service takes place. This includes the laying of wreaths __from__various organisations and members of the public. Flowers have traditionally _been_laid on graves and memorials in memory of the __dead / passed__. Laurel and rosemary are often __used__ in wreaths. Laurel __was__ used by the ancient Romans as a symbol of honour and was woven _into_ a wreath to crown victors or the brave. Rosemary is used _for_ remembrance. The wreaths are laid to honour the people _who_ have died fighting for New Zealand.

The poppy has become the symbol _of_ Anzac Day. The Flanders poppy as it is _sometimes_called grew in the trenches and craters of _the_war zone in Belgium and at Gallipoli. These poppies _grew_wild in the spring. The soldiers thought of the poppies as soldiers who had__died__. The poppy was __made__famous by Colonel J.M. McCrae's poem __call__ In Flanders' Fields. Poppies are sold on the __days__ before Anzac Day to raise money for the R.S.A. [Returned Services Association]

In most ceremonies of remembrance ___there___is a reading of a poem. This is often "The Ode to the Fallen" __by__ Laurence Binyon. It ___was__ first published in the Times newspaper in 1914.

They shall not grow __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.

The last post ___was___ the trumpet call sounded in army barracks at 10pm ___at___ night to mark the end of the ___days___ activities. It is also __played___ at military funerals and commemorative services to show __that__ the soldier's day has drawn __to__ a final close.

This is usually followed by a period of silence for one ___or_ two minutes as a sign of respect for those __who___ have died. After observing the silence the ___flags___ are raised from half-mast to the masthead. The Rouse is __then___ played. The Rouse called the soldier's spirits to arise and __fight___ for another day.

The Reveille is played at __the__ dawn services instead of the Rouse. The Reveille is played only __as__ the first call in the _moming__. It woke the soldiers __up__ at dawn.

Often hymns __are__ sung and speeches made. The important part of the ceremony is to___remember___ those who died.