Anzac Day remembrance is not just about poppies

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OPINION

I understand the public were upset about the decision from the local RSA to not put poppies on graves this Anzac Day and I applaud those who came forward to offer their help.

Anzac Day began as a way to remember those who fell at Gallipoli and in other conflicts in World War I. Historians who chronicle the history of Poppy Day tell us that this started not long after World War I and it was linked to the poem In Flanders Fields.

The poppy became a symbol of remembrance for both world wars, and has since been used to remember those from other conflicts.

I have a personal connection - my great-grandfather was a veteran of WWI (and military medal recipient) and both grandfathers served in WWII - one was in the Home Guard, but there are no graves for any of them so the only way I can honour them is by either Anzac services or my memories of them.

I understood the RSA’s reasons for not putting poppies on graves this year and to honour those graves in a different way. I also understand the other side of it. It should also be noted that not every RSA branch in New Zealand has placed poppies on graves.

I feel that the poppy isn’t the only way to honour those who fought. We should be honouring them by living up to the example that they set. By taking the lessons learnt from those terrible wars and ensuring the likes of them don’t happen again.

The problem is, we’re not learning those lessons. Especially with what is happening in the Middle East and in the Ukraine. If these two conflicts are any example, then we have either forgotten or we have learnt nothing.

Spanish-American philosopher George Santayana once said: “Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it.”

The poppy itself is a tangible reminder of the various conflicts over the past 110 years, but once Anzac Day is over, what happens to the poppy we wear during the service? How many of us go to visit the graves of those servicemen on a regular basis? Or in the case of my grandfathers, actually have something to mark their place of rest?

This Anzac Day, I will make a concerted effort to remind myself of what my grandfathers fought for. Lest we forget.