REMEMBRANCE DAY
The Member for Berowra, Philip Ruddock MP said today the significance of Remembrance Day this year is particularly poignant with the passing of the last of the World War 1 servicemen in June. on the 11th November it is important to renew our promise to remember and honour all the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for all Australians.
“Three hundred thousand Australians fought in World War I and of these 60,000 died with 156,000 wounded or taken prisoner,
“This commitment out of a population of only five million clearly shows the importance of ensuring that our World War I servicemen must never ever be forgotten,
“It is essential that the memory of these heroes live forever with us and we owe it to the next generation to keep their achievements alive and as in all years I will be attending the service in Hornsby,” Mr Ruddock said.
Australians on Remembrance Day 2009 makes a special effort to pause for one minute’s silence at 11am and to wear a red poppy in memory of our service men and women who lost their lives fighting for our freedom and peace in World Wars 1 and 2 and in other theatres of war. Hornsby RSL plays an important role with its large membership of ex-servicemen and women.
The tradition of the red poppy has its origins in a poem written in 1915 by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, who was so moved by the sight of red poppies stretching across the World War I battlefields that he penned the poem In Flanders Fields.
In 1997 the Governor General formally proclaimed 11 November to be Remembrance Day and urged all Australians to observe one minutes silence at 11am on 11 November as a mark of respect for those who died or suffered for Australia’s cause in all wars and armed conflict.