ANZAC Day

Temperature: -61.3C
Wind Chill: -84.2C
Wind Speed: 12.9 kts

This past Saturday, we had a unique treat! We celebrated ANZAC Day down here. The ANZACs (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) fought during WWI, and on the 25^th of April, they are remembered and honored in various ways. Some people actually pay their respects in Gallipoli, where the ANZACs fought alongside British troops against Turkey. Others will have tributes in their own home towns, remembering those who fought during that war.

On station this year, our population includes one Australian and one New Zealander (also affectionately called a Kiwi). They decided to celebrate ANZAC Day down here, and we combined the winter retiring of the station’s ceremonial flags with their dawn tradition!

Our PA took the lead, printed up literature on the history behind the day,

had paper poppies available for folks who showed up for the tribute,

and spent a couple hours in the galley working on Anzac biscuits to have with our tea or coffee after the flags were brought in.

Saturday morning came, and around 6am, people gathered in the Galley, waiting to grab poppies, hand warmers, cameras…whatever they wanted to bring with them. At 7am, we bundled up, and went outside…to be greeted by a fantastic aurora!

Once everyone made it to the Ceremonial Pole, we recited the verse from Laurence Binyon's ‘For the Fallen’

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

This was followed by a minute of silence,

then we took the flags from the Pole and brought them indoors, where biscuits and hot drinks waited for everyone! A couple days earlier, the biscuits were made…there were a couple different recipes,

and by the end of the day, all the biscuits were devoured…so I guess they were really good!

The day continued like any other Saturday, with the exception of the evening, with a screening of “Gallipoli”.

It was awesome to be a part of someone else’s traditions and ceremonies this weekend, and I think a lot more people showed up for the ceremony than anticipated, but that’s the great thing about this community!

I will leave you all with an awesome shot that Cully took of the sky following the ceremony…hope everyone is staying warm up there!!

Capt. Splash