“Those who served bequeathed to us a great legacy, may we, and future generations, prove worthy of their sacrifice.” –Australian War Memorial chairman Kerry Stokes

Yesterday, Australia celebrated ANZAC Day, the annual observance where Australians remember those who fought and died in service to the country, along with recognizing those currently in the service. The holiday distinguishes, in particular, the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who first fought in World War I. Australia has since contributed forces to conflicts around the world, and currently have military stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan, where Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull spent his ANZAC Day, meeting and greeting the troops.
The holiday is one of the most celebrated occasions, with former Prime Minister Tony Abbott telling morning news show Sunrise, “I think this is, in a sense, our real national day” (the country celebrates Australia Day every January 26).
Across the country, the day begins with dawn services, observed in nearly all towns and cities, greeting the day in solemn reverence to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of their country. The National Ceremony then takes place that morning at the Australian War Memorial in the nation’s capital, Canberra.
Dawn services also take place in Gallipoli, Turkey, the site of the first campaign conducted by the ANZACs in 1915; and in Villers-Bretonneux, France, one of the villages liberated by the ANZACs in 1918.
Sporting events are also rescheduled for the day, with rugby league and Aussie rules football players standing arm-in-arm, offering a moment of silence before kickoff.
Witnessing the respect and admiration shown for those who fought for their country is a heartwarming sight. The sounds of bagpipes and the playing of the “Last Post” goes on all day, with each note bringing a flood of emotions to the already solemn occasion.
Similarly, Memorial Day in the United States is a time when the country remembers those who have died in service to the country, flags are flown half-staff and the National Memorial Day Concert takes place on the west lawn of the United States Capitol Building.
The president of the United States also ceremonially lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, located at Arlington National Cemetery, a national military cemetery, where many soldiers of distinction; former US presidents, including John F. Kennedy and William Howard Taft; and former Philippine President Manuel Quezon are buried.
The cemetery is also decorated for the occasion, with private citizens taking time to place an American flag by the tombstones.

The Philippines has Araw ng Kagitingan, or the Day of Valor, which remembers the fall of Bataan during World War II. While recognized as a national holiday, the day often goes by without notice, with remarkably less recognition than occasions like Ninoy Aquino Day, which was created merely for political posterity and vanity.
The country also celebrates National Heroes’ Day, however, in most cases, most media observances either go back to the same people behind the promotion of Ninoy Aquino Day or celebrate the overseas Filipino worker (OFW), considered “the modern day hero.”
Why are those who risk their lives for the country brushed aside? While there are many who do good for the country, there is a difference with those who sacrifice for their families and those who risk their lives in the name of the country.
Is the idea of Filipino soldiers in combat such a foreign concept that locals do not think of the military when asked to define the word hero?
On a visit to Seoul, spent one morning to see the War Memorial of Korea, which was stablished in commemoration of the Korean War. The structure features artillery, military aircraft, a ship, and tanks on display around its exterior. Among the sites, spotted among the flags flying in front of the establishment, the flag of Philippines – physical proof of the impact the Philippine armed forces have made on an international scale.
According to the inscription at the foot of the flagpole, “The Philippines was the first Asian nation to send a combat unit to Korea, and the third ground troops, following the US and the UK.”
7,420 were sent to battle on behalf of the Philippines. 313 came back wounded and 113 died in combat.
How these kinds of sacrifices go unheard is inconceivable and, comparing how other nations honor their military, it reveals a large deficiency in the visibility of the armed forces in the eyes of the public.
Sure there are those who educate “the children of tomorrow” or those who travel afar to support their families, but those who put their lives on the line and fight under the flag are also worthy of the utmost respect.
Taking a look at the Armed Forces of the Philippines coat of arms, it features a letter “K” in a stylized version of ancient Tagalog script, representing “Kalayaan,” or freedom; and without them, the public would not be able to enjoy the freedoms that are often taken for granted today./WDJ