Australia Up Close For Patriotic Australians, A Day of Remembrance By DARREN McLEAN	フレームで見る  英文をプリントする  脚注をプリントする
アンザック・デイに戦没者を追悼 4月25日はアンザック・デイ——第一次大戦のトルコのガリポリの戦いで命を落とした兵士をしのぶ日です。愛国心の強い人々にとっては特別な日でもあるこの記念日は、今年で85回目。15,000人が戦地を巡礼をするなど、大勢の人が戦没者に敬意を払いました。

On April 25, Australians pause from their normal routines to remember the thousands of Australian men and women who fought and died in war. It is a day of gratitude and respect for those who gave their lives to help make Australia a free country. This special day is known as Anzac Day.

Anzac Day originated 85 years ago when, at dawn on April 25, 1915, the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) raided the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey, beginning one of the most famous battles of World War I. It was the first time Australian soldiers died for their country.

More than 131,000 Allied and Turkish soldiers were killed in the eight month battle of Gallipoli, but neither side gained any advantage from the bloodshed. So you may wonder, what is the significance of such a senseless battle?

At the time, Australia was a young country, still trying to find its own identity. And the young men who died on the battlefields of World War I gave Australians a true sense of unity and spirit, both overseas and at home. The battle of Gallipoli forged one of Australians' most important qualities, known to all as "the Anzac spirit."

For this reason Anzac Day is not only a day of remembrance but also a day of national pride. Over the past 85 years the Anzac spirit has become a characteristic of the Australian way of life and a large part of the Australian image. It is the desire that all Australians have for freedom and peace.

On the 85th anniversary of Anzac Day, Australians proved that this spirit burns brighter than ever before, as record numbers of people traveled to memorial services at home and overseas.

The most significant Anzac service took place in Turkey. Some 15,000 Australians and New Zealanders made the pilgrimage to the site of the first Anzac Day, including Australian Prime Minister John Howard.

In a moving tribute at the Anzac service, Howard said, "We are the same people, possessed of the same courage, the same determination, the same spirit. Within us all is carried the seed of Anzac."

It was at this very spot on Gallipoli Beach that the most famous story of Anzac spirit took place. Pvt. John Simpson Kirkpatrick rode his donkey to and from the battlefront for days on end, ferrying wounded men to safety. This image of Kirkpatrick is now an Australian icon, symbolizing mateship, determination and courage.

Across Australia, former servicemen and their families and friends, as well as current members of the Australian military, gathered at local war memorials. Most towns also host an Anzac Day parade, where decorated soldiers, both current and retired, march through the main street past cheering crowds.

Two high school friends of mine, Brett and Matthew Huggins, are currently studying at the Australian Defense Force Academy in Canberra. They were allowed to travel home on Anzac Day to march with their father and grandfather, both former servicemen.

"It's very important for us to be together today," said Brett on Anzac Day, "especially for my grandfather, who served and lost friends in the air force in World War II."

My grandfather and great uncles also served in World War II, so, as for most Australian families, Anzac Day has personal meaning for my family.

The nation prayed at Anzac services for the safety of those still serving, including over 2,000 soldiers in East Timor as part of the peacekeeping mission. The commander of the United Nations mission to East Timor, Gen. Peter Cosgrove, was awarded this year's Anzac Day Peace Prize for his caring and dedicated leadership.

Another part of the Anzac spirit is a good sense of humor, which has helped soldiers laugh and smile during times of war. The most popular form of entertainment for Australian soldiers, or "diggers," as they were commonly called, was a gambling game called "Two Up."

During wartime the diggers would gamble any worthwhile possession, like money or cigarettes, by tossing two coins in the air and betting on which way they would land. To keep the tradition alive, Australians are allowed to gamble on Two Up in clubs on Anzac Day.

Today there are only two original Anzacs, aged 101 and 104, still alive. But their legacy will remain part of the Australian culture long after they are gone. On each Anzac Day the new generation of young Australians, like myself, will continue to honor those who sacrificed their lives in the wars of the 20th century to give us the freedom and peace that we enjoy today.

Shukan ST: May 12, 2000

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