anzac day

Another year has passed and still the crowds increase at Anzac Day gatherings around the country.

In Sydney, 4000 people gathered at the Cenotaph in Martin Place for the Dawn Service, the traditional start to the day. They were there by 3:30 am and stood in pouring rain for the service. Many then took part in the march later on, a long march lasting over three hours. Again undeterred by the rain, there were crowds watching the march with young children waving flags.

Brass and pipe bands make me cry and this was so again. I'm fairly cynical often, but these bands affect me everytime. Some of them marched around the route several times in the rain because there were not enough bands in total to have them each play once.

The tears were started by the sight of the riderless horse, stirrups reversed and cavalry boots in the stirrups, being led through the wet streets at the head of the procession.

More info on Anzac Day here.

I was going to post a recording of the Last Post beautifully played by a NZ bugler. However, I've heard it so many times today and it has made me cry each time. Here is a different song and video, Australian Heroes.

Here is a link to a page explaining traditions at military funerals. Scroll down to paragraph under the picture of the horse for an explanation of the riderless horse and the reversed stirrups. The page also mentions the custom of reversed rifles dragging in the dust which I saw in another procession yesterday

Comments

[Ian]

What is the significance of the riderless horse? Is it for those who did not return?

The bands affect me also.