The Meaning behind Courage, Endurance and Mateship
As I donned my Akubra and draped my Aussie flag around my neck crafting a makeshift scarf, we headed off to the ANZAC Day Service at the oval of the Stanley Marketplace hosted by the AUSDenver community.
Seeing these three flags flying together was a really pivotal and personal moment because the vision took me back in time as I remembered that young 18 year old who had the courage to leave her childhood home in the suburbs of Auckland, experience life’s ups and downs as many of us do, and find those people you can bet your life on.
I reflected on how those three flags represented my life’s journey and how I was and am…
- A product of New Zealand
- A citizen of Australia
- A resident of the USA
- A child of the Universe
With three meaningful flags flying and three national anthems played….
🇦🇺 I felt super proud when ‘Advance Australia Fair’ was played (and it added to a little bit of home-sickness I have felt this morning)
🇳🇿 I felt super, super proud when ‘God Defend NZ’ was played (and was so surprised those words taught way back in school came to mind immediately)
🇺🇸 I felt especially grateful for being here when the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ was played….(because that song just gives me goosebumps and we still think it amazing we are here!)
With my grandfather having served in WW1 and my daughter having served in the MIddle East, we celebrated ANZAC Day in Denver not forgetting the sacrifices and service of both – large and small.
ANZAC Day commemorates the anniversary of the allied troops from Australia and New Zealand landing in Gallipoli, Turkey on 25th April 1915 and marks the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War.
When Great Britain declared war against Germany, the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps [what we now know as the ANZACS] joined forces and went to war.
At dawn on that fateful day, the first wave of approx. 70,000 soldiers landed on the beaches of Gallipoli – with more than 20,000 being young Australians and New Zealanders and for 8 months they clung to the hills of Turkey before finally withdrawing.
With around 11,000 of those 20,000 killed we recognise ANZAC Day for many things – most notably – courage, endurance and mateship.
This year in Denver, while Major Daniel Groves from the Australian Army, Wing Commander Richard Harrison from Royal Australian Airforce, Corporal Ben Byrne and Flight Lieutenant Fin Kelly from Royal Australian Airforce based out of Colorado Springs conducted the service and emceed by James Waddell from AUSDenver, it was a proud moment to listen to the bugle play ‘The Last Post’ and hear the words from ‘The Fallen’:
Let’s embrace the ANZAC Spirit of Courage, Endurance and Mateship, even more.
Lest we Forget!
Be Bold, Brave and Brilliant!
I am a Professional Speaker and work with corporations who have sales teams that want to be energised and inspired to go to market smarter, as well as work with associations who have members hungry for new ideas to build their businesses and their teams.
Visit my speaker website at www.BernadetteMcClelland.com and please reach out for a conversation to see how I might help you, your team and your business.
