My Local Shopping Centre, 07/11/2011
I write this letter with great emotion, pride, frustration and sadness. I was sitting at a coffee shop with my business partner Nicole on Monday when she popped out to take a call.
Prior to this occurring, an elderly gentleman carrying a Remembrance Day box of poppies and wristbands stopped in the entrance of the centre. He just stood still and quietly and looked at the people as they passed. It was obvious he was selling the poppies and wristbands to raise money for our Diggers and the families that are left behind.
I was fascinated looking at this man, thinking about the pride Australians take in their heritage - no matter how diverse that heritage is - when I heard a lovely melodious voice say to me “Hello M’am, I’m Corporal Donald Smith from the 5th Division Artillery. How are you M’am?”
So I turned to my right and there was this immaculately dressed Digger in his full regalia and all I could think was – wow! He is so gorgeous and full of mischief. It took me a moment to realise that he was in Spirit.
I said “Good afternoon Corporal. How are you on this fine, hot day?”
With a chuckle and a twinkle in his bright blue eyes he said, “Can’t say the heat effects me much these days M’am! So, I came over because you seemed a bit sad and I thought it wasn’t right that a pretty girl is so sad on such a beautiful day. My friends and I (he pointed to four other diggers who were dressed just as immaculately as him standing next to the man who was holding the Remembrance Day box) voted and I got the short straw see?” (He held up a short timber stick like a paddle pop stick).
I smiled at him and his friends. Then I realised that his friends, whilst all soldiers, seemed to be different generations. I said, “I felt sad because I am seeing this man stand there with such quiet dignity and these bloody people are walking past like he doesn’t count and that what he represents doesn’t count and I kind of resent it because we are so lucky you all fought for this beautiful big land of ours.
For the freedom we literally have today in a world where every other country seems in social economical and spiritual chaos. Yet we, in Australia, are safe as babes tucked in at night. I don’t know Sir; it just annoys the crap out of me today watching this.”
He looked at me very intently and said, “You who are so sensitive to the world’s emotions know better than to let this annoy you. May I call you Julianna?”
I nodded.
“You are smarter than to judge people on their ignorance. You are letting ten, twelve and fifteen year olds, young mothers and busy people upset you at their lack of apparent care, yet they cannot respect what they are not taught. It is not about rehashing how we died on a bloody cold hard ground in a bloody awful foreign country - sorry Julianna for the bad language (he clearly wasn’t aware of my bad language tendencies) - but about how we lived in this time,” he said.
“See all my mates? (He pointed to the very happy band of soldiers talking, smoking and laughing together whilst checking out my business partner on her mobile. What can I say? They are still men not angels!) They are not worried that they are dead and buried: only that you remember why we did it; why we volunteered; and why we went out to fight, not die, on foreign soil; and why we would do it in a heartbeat again.
We did it not for politics, not for greed, not for avarice. We did it for pride in our country’s dream to stay independent; her dream to stay healthy and strong and to grow; for her to develop and give humanity a home and life; and for her dream to be used appropriately and with respect.
So Julianna, leave your anger at God’s door for him to manage - we have. Stand up, go get the medicine you need (I had a script in the chemist and thought I would get cash out to buy two wristbands for my boys to wear) and go get your boys the bands to wear as they always do with such pride for any occasion.
You see Julianna, death was just a process in a soldier’s life, but the choice to join made us the men we are - even today in Spirit. You have the ability to share that with your people on Remembrance Day. Just stop to think not of how many died and how, but rather, how we lived and how we want them to respect this great country and freedom.
To disregard this country, to not have pride in this country and to not look after this country is a travesty against us all who served her and served her well. So, share this chat our Julianna and go get your medicines and bands.”
I stood up, walked out to Nicole and walked through the rowdy group of soldiers with a swagger! They thought it was hysterical as I walked right through them, into the chemist and back out and to the man with the box with my cash in hand.
Clear blue eyes met mine as I asked for two bands for my boys to wear.
Then I realised what my young Corporal meant.
He would never grow into this age, as this man did. He would never grow older, as this man will. He will never regret his life, as so many of us do. Because he lived as he wanted: as a soldier. He fought for what he believed in: respect and freedom. He left behind what we all say we want to, but very rarely truly achieve: a Legacy.
I will strive to be such as him and his band of rowdy, fun Diggers in Spirit. And for all the blessings I get from this work, this conversation was one of the best so far!
Remembrance Day, 11 November 2011
Remembrance Day marks the anniversary of the Armistice which ended the First World War (1914–18). Each year Australians observe one minute’s silence at 11am on 11 November, in memory of those who died or suffered in all wars and armed conflicts.
