[Previous entry: "The three most commonly used passwords are 'secret', 'sex' and 'god'"] [Next entry: "My First Resuscitation Attempt"] At the suburban ANZAC Day ceremony I usually go to, a local school student gives a little speech about what ANZAC Day means to them.

To me, ANZAC Day is more about the night before. Spending an hour at a time in the middle of the night, standing around the local memorial. Whether it's fine and cold or wet and windy. Rush back inside for a party pie and this year's showing of Top Gun, then back up to the park for another hour's vigil before the long suburban service that we can recite by now after twelve years. Up at Kings Park in more recent years for a half-hour march around the illuminated cenotaph in a 75-year-old tradition.

Finally my first dawn service in Kings Park today, standing in the honour guard, hopped up on coffee and no sleep, trying to stand up straight when the camera whizzes past, even just trying to stay standing in the soft grass.

All as a token (how could it be more) of remembrance and respect.

What does ANZAC Day mean to you?