ANZAC DAY!

**Blazey** · April 26th, 2003, 02:09 AM

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<center><font color=blue>"This day of days again we keep -
In memory of those who sleep
Away beyond the quiet sea.....
Away in far Gallipolli.

'Tis Anzac Day - 'tis Anzac Day..
Our soldier comrades far away,
They died in war - that we in peace
May live and love that war may cease".</font></center>

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This is one of Australia's most important national holidays. April 25th is the anniversary of the first major battle fought by Australia and New Zealand during World War I. They celebrate it just like we celebrate Remembrance Day.ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The soldiers who fought for these countries were known as ANZACs. A year after war broke out the ANZACs set out to capture the Gallipoli Peninsula so allied Navies could get to the Black Sea. When they landed at Gallipoli on April 25th they couldn't defeat the Turkish who were defending the area. For eight months the two groups battled it out. At the end of 1915 they were told to give up because both sides had lost thousands of men and were suffering from major damages.What some people don't know is that all the men who fought during the eight months, including the 8000 who died, were all volunteers. Because of the voluntary acts of these brave soldiers, Australians made April 25th a day to remember them.

Services are held at dawn, which is the same time the ANZACs landed. Later in the day men and women who served in the war march throughout cities and towns. Ceremonies are held at war memorials around the country.