FOR THE FALLEN

Ivana

BY LAURENCE BINYON

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,

England mourns for her dead across the sea.

Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,

Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal 

Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,

There is music in the midst of desolation

And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,

Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;

They fell with their faces to the foe.

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.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again; 

They sit no more at familiar tables of home;

They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;

They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound, 

Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,

To the innermost heart of their own land they are known

As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust, 

Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;

As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness, 

To the end, to the end, they remain.

Lest We Forget

By your Mum :)

This post is dedicated to my youngest child, Ivana, the troublemaker, but the kindest soul I've ever met. The first photo (above) is her doing what she loves to do, public  speaking, at an ANZAC ceremony some weeks ago. 

She loves to talk, ohhh, boy, she never shuts up! Since you were very, very young, you religiously woke up to see the Dawn Service, to honour those who fought for your country, I always thought it was very touching to see a young child doing this, sometimes you'd cry... Once we went to a service and you had so many "medals" on your uniform  that I've said to your teacher: She is mad, she thinks she is one of them, you were in year 5. Your teacher had a good laugh, surely he agreed with me...

This year you have earned your own ANZAC’s badge with your  name on it and you feel so happy and proud of yourself, me too. Enough bragging, kid! 

You’ve represented your school on a big  event with thousands of people  some weeks ago and tomorrow you'll be reading the Creed at a Dawn Service, also for thousands of people if weather permits.

I'm so proud of all your achievements but it was that special  flag (pictured, which you call your flag) that really touched my heart after the words East Timor, of course. 

Thank you, Gabriel.

Do you know one thing, young lady? 

You are loud, annoying, stubborn, nerd :),  revolted, opinionated, smarty pants,  Miss Knows Everything and the list goes on but hey, I'm  soooooo proud of you! Yeah, don't get too cocky though, I'm a tough mum, not! 

Thank you for being such an amazing  human  being and a marvellous daughter.

With love, 

Mum