Emotional Attachment to Anzac Day

Australia and the World- Essay

3.  In the 21st century Australians seem more emotionally attached to Anzac Day, a military event that occurred 100 years ago. Discuss.

Anzac Day falls on the 25th of April each year and it is one of Australia and New Zealand’s most important national day of remembrance. It was officially named Anzac day on the 25th of April 1916 and it marks the anniversary of the first most important military intervention battled by Australian and New Zealand militaries during World War I. Anzac Day was initially created to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli against the Ottoman Empire during World War I.  Which was an allied mission for the Australian and New Zealand soldiers to capture the Gallipoli peninsula in order to open the Dardanelles to the allied navies. The aim was to capture Constantinople (now known as Istanbul), which was the capital city of the Ottoman Empire, they were also Germany’s ally. The term ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The soldiers in those armies were then proud to be known as Anzac’s and are proud to be known so till this day.

 Australian’s are more emotionally attached to Anzac day as it is a day dedicated to honour all the fallen Australians and New Zealanders soldiers (ANZAC) who fought and pass away in all wars, battles, and military operations and those who were involved and grieved for those who did serve. To honour the Anzac soldiers all Australians during Anzac day have a 1-2 min silence which is dedicated to the Anzac soldiers in order to remember them and to honour and acknowledge them and what they did to serve our country. With the coming of the Second World War, Anzac Day became a day on which to commemorate the lives of Australians and New Zealanders lost in that war as well and in subsequent years. The meaning of the day has been further broadened to include those killed in all the military operations in which the countries have been involved ("Anzac Day: what happened at Gallipoli?” 2018).

However Australians seem more emotionally attached to Anzac Day now, even though it was a military event that occurred 100 years ago. This could be due to the fact that the Anzac war was the only major war Australia and New Zealand was involved in. Thus why it is so important and also the reason why Australians are so emotionally attached to it because their ancestors fought during the ANZAC war and many lost their lives for it. ANZAC day is a day for Australian’s and New Zealanders to remember their past grandparents and a day they could spend with their loved ones to acknowledge them and even go to their grave or memorial to put some flowers down and to pay their respects for what they have done for their country. ANZAC day is also important to Australians as they are taught about it in school and is embedded into their minds as a major military event for Australians and New Zealanders in history, in which their ancestors fought in.

In today’s society Anzac Day embraces a vital element of the Australian story. Australia and New Zealand soldiers joined militaries on the western front line to battle against Turkey. They related to the disturbance of the Gallipoli campaign. The meaning of Anzac Day has rapidly changed over the centuries, currently it refers to the remembrance of all the first world war soldiers including those who served at Gallipoli that have lost their lives. Anzac Day is cherished through annual memorials each month during April on the 25th day. The commemorative services are reminisced throughout the nation during dawn the original landing time whereas later servicewomen and servicemen participate in a march across country’s city to reflect and recall several soldiers that lost their lives during the harsh wars (Donoghue & Tranter, 2013)