With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal,
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres.
There is music in the midst of desolation,
And a glory that shines upon her tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

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.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables at home;
They have no lot in our labour of the daytime;
They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known,
As the stars are known to the night.

As the stars will be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.

Nor the years condemn; is it really years that condemn people though; or the people of the future who condemn those of the past. Who are the naysayers who now cry out in opposition of those who have fallen in service of our country? It is not our place, the people of today, to say whether or not a war past was right or wrong but to be thankful that our Country is what it is today.

Sure; we have a long way to go before we become a Utopia but there are many more places in the world worse off than our place. This day, ANZAC Day, these are not the days to proclaim all that is wrong with our Country but to be thankful for all that is right, all that is wonderful, all that has been fought for and won.

There are other days on which we can bemoan all that is wrong; we do not need to do so on this day.

My sincere thanks to all who have served to make our Country what it is today; to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, to their families, to those who returned and to those who continue to serve. The war may not be just or right, "we" might not want to be there but you are and I thank you.

This list was inspired by those who have fallen in service of our Country.

Kindest Wishes, AJ