At precisely the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918 the guns fell silent on the Western Front.
Originally called Armistice Day, it quickly became known as Remembrance Day, a day on which we pause for a moment’s silence to remember all those who made the supreme sacrifice in service to their country. It now commemorates all those who died in service to their country, in all conflicts, including peacekeeping operations.
Various symbols are associated with Remembrance Day, especially our National Australian Flag, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Red Poppy.
On Monday 12 October, Mr Julian Simmons, Member for the Federal seat of Ryan, on behalf of the Australian Government, presented a new Australian flag to the President of the Gap sub-Branch, Mr Rod Adamson, and his committee at ‘Nullagundi’. The flag was flown for the first time on the new flagpole which was presented earlier in the year by Councillor Steve Toomey, Councillor for the Gap Ward, who has always been a strong supporter of the sub-branch.
Both these events mark small but significant milestones in the progress of The Gap RSL Sub-Branch. The installation of the flagpole and the acquisition of the Australian Flag are due to the good work of members Tony Everett and more recently David Esler.
The Remembrance Day Ceremony, on Wednesday 11th November, will take place in the Walton Bridge Reserve War Memorial; assembling at 10.30 am to be completed by 11.15 am. This will be a COVID safe event and all social distancing and sanitization recommendations will be followed. If you are feeling unwell on the day or suffering from any cold or flu like symptoms, or if you have been to a COVID hotspot in the previous 14 days , please do not attend.
Volunteers will be selling poppies and other merchandise in The Gap Village Shopping Centre in the week prior to Remembrance Day and you are urged to support our activities.
You are also encouraged to attend the ceremony in the Walton Bridge Reserve War Memorial – remember to bring a hat! If you cannot attend, please pause at 11am, no matter how briefly , to reflect on the freedoms we enjoy here in Australia and to honour those who paid the supreme sacrifice.
‘WE WILL REMEMBER THEM’ – ‘LEST WE FORGET’
