Tony Scott OAM, of Blackmans Bay supplied the Kingborough Chronicle with this powerfully positive message for ANZAC Day, which will be honoured this year in a much different way.
“No matter what is happening around the world or at home, we will never forget to remember and commemorate what took place on April 25, 1915 on the other side of the world at Gallipoli.
“This year may not see us remember and commemorate ANZAC Day like we have done in the past, but we all will take time out to remember what the day means to us all.
“It is said that the landing at Gallipoli and the courage shown was the making of our country.
“Since then our fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters and other members of the family have answered the call to protect our land in wars and conflicts right up to the current day.
“Some paying the ultimate sacrifice of giving their lives so we could enjoy the life we have today and it is on April 25 each year we remember and thank them, along with those men and women who have served and the impact war service had on veterans returning and their families when returning to civilian life.
“We also remember the doctors and nurses who worked tireless in field hospitals and aid posts, looking after the wounded before they returned home to recover.
“April 25, 2020 will be a day we will remember as it will not be like any other ANZAC Day, as we remember those men and women who went off to war to never return and for those lucky enough to get through the ordeals of war, only to continue to suffer today as they remember that period of their lives.
“As this year’s ANZAC Day approaches, we are in another war, this time it is an enemy we cannot see and it has taken lives all around the world including here at home.
“Again, like it was during the war our unsung heroes the doctors and nurses along with medical researchers are on the front line fighting this virus and showing that ANZAC Spirit passed down by those men women some 100 years ago.
“Not only this year, will we remember our men and women from our first Australians through to our latest Australians who stepped up to protect the land we love over the past 100 years during wars and conflicts, but also remember the doctors, nurses and medical researchers on the front line throughout Australia fighting this virus so we all can go back to the country we call “The Lucky Country, Australia.”
“We will always remember those men and women who served their country while saying thank you to those men and women in our Defence Force today.
“Today, we also say thank you to all the doctors and nurses along with medical researchers and especially to all those doctors and nurses who have answered the call and come back to help in this fight, and be aware we are fully behind you and know we can beat this.
“LEST WE FORGET.”
Tony Scott OAM, Blackmans Bay
First Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
Vietnam 1968/69
