Lest we forget

Metthew Herbert Prideaux

The ANZAC Day ceremony was quite an event. The Mayor was there – along with the Australian Consul-General in Chicago. People said things – a trumpeter from the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra played the Last Post and I recited the Ode.

We met Australians who have been here for 25 years. Suffering Succotash.

There was no Australian food because the catering was done by the University of Indianapolis – but there was lovely Australian wine.

They did an AV display and I provided a photo of my uncle – after whom I was named – who was killed in the Somme in 1916 at age 20.  I gave them a photo of Cate’s father who served from 1940 to 1945 in Libya, Lebanon, Egypt, Palestine, the Philippines and New Guinea.

He survived the war – but like very many veterans – was never quite the same again. He used to have nightmares about being chased through the jungle by the Japanese.

I missed out on my ANZAC day blog so here is the Ode and a photo.

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.