Shaun Buckney Facebook
A retired serviceman has posted a heartfelt list of 16 things we should remember this Anzac Day, which has gone viral.
Shaun Buckney, from Brisbane, is the son of a soldier and enlisted in the army himself after he left school, the Border Watch reports.
Following his 15-year career, the 50-year-old has hit out at the Australian media for the publishing of misinformation about the Anzacs and Anzac Day.
On April 22, he posted on Facebook a list of 16 important points we should all remember on this landmark occasion.
The post has since been shared more than 8600 times.
Mr Buckney’s list:
- We commemorate ANZAC Day, not celebrate it. It’s not a bloody party.
- Tuesday 25 April 2017 marks the 102nd anniversary of the landing of ANZAC Soldiers, Sailors, Medical personnel and animals on Gallipoli.
- Sailors rowed Soldiers ashore during the Gallipoli landings, under heavy fire, without outboards motors. The little boats they used are called ‘lighters’.
- It’s a bugle, not a trumpet, and the Last Post is sounded, not played. It’s not a bloody dance tune.
- Not every serviceman/woman was a ‘soldier’. Some were Sailors, Airmen and Nursing Sisters. Please take the time to ascertain what Service they served in, and use the correct terminology. It means a lot them/us!!!
- No I am not wearing my father’s medals, they are mine. I earned them during Active Service while you were enjoying all the comforts that I was dreaming of.
- They’re medals, not badges. They’re citations, not pins.
- Please don’t try to draw comparisons between civilians and war veterans, I’ve never seen a civilian perform acts of heroism whilst under fire to protect their fellow service personnel, flag and Country.
- Medals, ribbons and Unit Citations are EARNED, not WON. It’s not a bloody chook raffle. They are awarded to the recipient, not given to them.
- The RED POPPY symbolises peace, death and sleep of the fallen servicemen/woman. While the PURPLE Poppy represents rememberance of the animal victims of war. Learn the difference. Traditionally, Rosemary is worn on ANZAC Day; however, the Poppy has become popular through the generations and is widely worn on both ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day Services.
- ‘Lest We Forget’ isn’t a throwaway line, it actually has meaning: it’s an expression of remembrance, par excellence. It has dignified origins, a rich history.
- Yes, I am allowed to wear my ‘Return From Active Service’ badge on any day of the year that I choose to wear it.
- Australian and New Zealand soldiers didn’t retreat from Gallipoli, they withdrew.
- It doesn’t matter which side you wear your Poppy on, as long as it’s worn with pride.
- Medal recipients wear their medals on the left side of their chest covering their heart, family members/descendants wear the medals on the right.
- The ‘Ode’ comes from the poem “For the Fallen”, which was written by Laurence Binyon. The verse, which is commonly known as ‘The Ode Of Rememberance’, is as follows:
“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.”
Lest We Forget
Here endeth the lesson.
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