As Colonel Benjamin Slaughter spoke of soldiers at Gallipoli, it was not hard to picture their steely faces, watching today’s defence force members marching through the rain.
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The Logistics Unit Victoria commander, who began his career as an army cadet in 1990 and was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, spoke at the Wodonga morning service.
“We meet today not to glorify war, or praise the victors, but to remember those who served our country during a time of conflict and to reflect on their sacrifice,” he said.
“It’s a day in which we not only salute the Anzacs, but take the opportunity to reinvigorate our national pride and spirit.
“Over 100 years ago, the Australian and New Zealand soldiers waited on their transport ships to land on a small beach thousands of kilometres from home on the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey.”
Colonel Slaughter paid tribute to the 36,000 who were killed or wounded then, and spoke of centenary commemorations.
“2017 marks the centenary of campaigns … in Gaza, Noreuil and Ypres to name a few … by the end of 1917, Australia had suffered a further 76,000 causalities,” he said.
“No Australian is left untouched when a member of our defence force is killed.
“Let us ensure we remember the families.”