There’s an old saying about wars: “Old men and women start them. Young men and women finish them.”
As tens of thousands of people line the streets at marches and services throughout the City of Logan next Monday for Anzac Day, Springwood Tri-Services RSL sub-branch president Dave Simmons says there will be additional sadness.
The legacy of Anzac Day will be as strong as ever, but there will be the knowledge that the human race has forgotten some lessons of history.
Mr Simmons was referring to the current uncertainty in Ukraine, and whether Australian service men and women will be called upon to be part of the increasing violence.
“Anzac Day is about looking forward,” he said. “My father said to me, ‘the price of peace is eternal vigilance’, and this Anzac Day will be a message of stormy waters.”
Mr Simmons will this week be speaking to a number of school groups, and he said due to the current situation in Europe, this year’s messaging was difficult to prepare.
He will be telling the story of Gallipoli and Australia’s involvement in numerous wars.
“Anzac Day … is the day that we both commemorate, not celebrate, Australian and New Zealand service personnel – at war on the sea, on the land and in the air,” he said.
He would be talking about the first world war as a “war to end all wars”, the second world war as a war against tyranny – yet both which started in Europe where current conflict could again threaten the Pacific.
“We appear again to be living in a time of uncertainty like our forefathers and mothers did so many decades ago,” Mr Simmons, who served as an infantry officer for 20 years, said.
“Hopefully we will not have to call on our young men and women once again to show the Anzac spirit that has been needed in times long gone by in the face of adversity – that spirit being great courage, resilience, endurance, initiative, discipline and mateship.
“Sadly the winds of war are drifting in the distance, sounds of beating drums can be heard on it once again.
“We pray this is not the case, as the eyes of our fallen in previous wars will look sadly upon us with a bowed head. Lest we forget.”
The Springwood Tri Service RSL Sub-branch Anzac Day service steps off at 7.45am from the Logan East Community Centre and proceeds to Springwood Park on Cinderella Drive.
Senator Amanda Stoker, sub-branch patron professor emeritus major-general Darryl Low Choy and police chief superintendent Melissa Watts will take the salute.
The parade will be led by a mounted contengent from the 2/14 QMI historical troop, followed by schools and community groups.
About 10,000 are expected to attend the march.
