Silence… from “the Returned” that saw the sacrifice.
As we watch the words projected on the Sydney Harbour Bridge Southern approach we can see the image on the Eastern wall of the silent soldier, have you ever wondered why “Silence” is what is asked at commemoration events. This is because “words” will never paint the true picture of the events that were experienced in any conflict abroad. Most of us today have no memory of the fallen or their sacrifice. So a brief silence is all we can offer as a display of respect to the fallen.
One can Gesture Respect to the fallen, but the words “Lest we Forget” are being used and bandied around like falling confetti. These words are synonymous with sacrifice and commemoration. There is fear of a diminishing sentiment for these words that were first uttered by Sir John Monash (The forgotten ANZAC). There was a fight going on in Australia, about the memorial, the legacy funds which the RSL may still be responsible for today. We just blindly follow the marketing dollars and squander our donations and fees to the RSL (Return Soldiers League) clubs without scrutinising any publicised audit.
The Original Australian flag that we held high and recognised as an icon like the slouch hat and its puggaree (folded cloth hat-band) was a Red flag “lest we forget”. But yet again, politics have clouded the real issue for a marketing dollar.
Simpson and his Donkey are commemorated. Also, dog trainers in the armed forces even have their beasts promoted in rank to acknowledge their degree of service. The glaring elephant in the room is the Brumby and its association in Australian history… where is the revered Brumby display in any ANZAC day march displaying the words Lest We Forget about these fine horses and the also forgotten Horsemen known as the traditional Ngarigo Horsemen from where these horses originated. Those are the real stories never told that kept us from the clutches of European sovereignty. All that is said in that vein, are fictitious stories about “The Man From Snowy River”. But the real stories have never dared to be told in fear that the person known as the Man from Snowy River was actually indigenous. Actually, i have a few stories of enlistment and failed recognition by Australia. However that story will be for another day.
What have we become with this now treacherous misinformation likened to the creations for religious following. Will we ever see that Red Flag as what we carried into battle or will we pay homage to the undeserving politicians that change the stories to suit their own endeavours. These are now the political hot cakes that we allow ourselves to believe because we have no memory to support except for the officially marketed narratives.
Personally my family has sacrificed… yes “sacrificed“, too many members to the Australian political misinformation machine and are still unsupported for that sacrifice. For the ones that did return and received their commendations, their medals are still kept in that red poppy clad cigar box which i nearly threw away because of my lack of understanding concerning the significance of its contents.
It must be infuriating to the dear ones to see those words being misused, cheapened and diluted for mere entertainment. The irreverent light-show flashed on the harbor bridge without offering follow up and support with the true stories and reasons for the sacrifice and hardship inflicted upon many to keep us free. What remains is a festive attitude, but what should remain, is the impelling desire to not be in that position again.
As we learn more of the sacrifices from all angles, we may now ponder on the word “Free”… Lest We Forget.
