AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND COMMEMORATE ANZAC DAY
From right to left: the Australian Ambassador, His Excellency Mr Tony Hely, the New Zealand Charg� d’Affaires Mr Stephen McCombie, the Philippines Secretary of National Defense, the Honourable Avelino Cruz Junior, and the Turkish Ambassador, His Excellency Mr Tanju Sumer, honour on Anzac Day (25 April) the Australians and New Zealanders that have lost their lives in time of war and in the cause of peace
Anzac Day marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. ANZAC was the name given to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps which landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey early on the morning of 25 April 1915.
On 25 April 2006, members of the Australian and New Zealand communities, the diplomatic corps and representatives from Philippine government agencies gathered at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Tomb of the Unknown Soldier) in Fort Bonifaco to commemorate the unwavering courage of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps soldiers.
“Anzac Day is probably Australia’s most important national occasion. The landing and the subsequent campaign throughout 1915 had a profound impact on Australians at home 91 years ago and it still does up to the present. The Australian and New Zealand troops’ actions bequeathed an intangible but powerful legacy, becoming an important part of the national identity of both nations,” Australian Ambassador Tony Hely said.
In Australia, commemorative services are held at dawn, the time of the original landing, across the nation. Later in the day ex-servicemen and women meet and join in marches through the major cities and many smaller centres. Commemorative ceremonies are held at war memorials around the country.