The legendary spirit of mateship and sacrifice will be commemorated again this week, as we mark Anzac Day.
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2017 is the third year in the centenary commemorations of World War One – the conflict that drew many nations into a devastating period that shook the planet, left more than 17 million people dead and over 20 million wounded.
It was during this conflict that soldiers from Australia and New Zealand landed on the beach at Gallipoli for an ill-fated military campaign that would shape the character of the two southern nations and give birth to the Anzac Spirit.
War was far too common in the 20th century. From The Great War to the European and Pacific theatres of World War Two – when the Allied Forces united against Germany, Japan and Italy – to conflicts in Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf.
Since the turn of the century, the West has been involved in conflict in Afghanistan, Iraq and other parts of the Middle East.
Fairfax Media reported today the story of Tenambit man Peter Knezevic, who is a Royal Australian Air Force technician responsible for maintaining fighter jets in the Middle East.
While Sergeant Knezevic is looking forward to commemorating his first Anzac Day on tour – his grandfather served in Papua New Guinea in World War Two – his story shows that there are still men and women willing to put themselves close to conflict to, ultimately, help make the world a safer place. Not only should we remember those brave men and women who served in the early part of the 20th century on Anzac Day, but we should also pay tribute to those people who are continuing to build on that legacy.
Maitland RSL Sub-Branch president Eric Bell said the centenary of World War One was no more important than any other year.
“One hundred years on everyone is saying it’s so important now,” he said. “But it’s no more important than it was five or 10 years on.”
Mr Bell makes a good point – service men and women, past and present, deserve the same level of respect and remembrance every year. It shouldn’t matter how many years have passed.
Commemoration services will be held across the Hunter on Tuesday. It’s important that we continue to turn out to these events in droves so that the Anzac Spirit remains strong in our communities.