In Remembrance...

ANZAC War Memorial

This monument was the one thing that I had to see after I started my research. ANZAC is the Australian and New Zealand Armed Coalition. From the moment that I approached the monument, I realized that this was the heart of the Australian people that were remembered within the walls of this memorial. When I walked into the building, the first thing I saw was a sign that requested that everyone remain quiet in respect for the fallen that are remembered there, and it was completely silent. Whispers could be heard, but very few. It wasn’t your typical museum. The people inside were there to remember, to honor, and some to mourn. The first floor is filled with artifacts from several wars. Uniforms, pins, utensils, caps…the list of what is shown there could fill pages. All of these items were donated by people who wanted to make sure that the war heroes of Australia were remembered for generations to come.

Though the downstairs is quite amazing and informative, the upstairs is emotionally enthralling. Walking up these narrow stairs, you enter into a cathedral like room. The vaulted ceiling is covered in stars. Each star represents a soldier that was sent to World War I just from the state of New South Wales, and there are 120,000 of them gleaming down at you. There is a circular banister in the middle of the room. Peering over the banister, you see a statue of a man dying from his wounds. He is a soldier laying on a sword, held in position by three females, a wife with children, a mother, and a sister. These three represent all of the women that supported their men through the war and the losses that they suffered because of it.

This monument displays with reverence how the Australian people feel about their soldiers. They are heroes and should be recognized as such.