On Loss, Legacy, and Sacrifice

Loss. It is perhaps one of the most potent emotions a person ever feels. To lose a pen, a game, a friend, a loved one, a life, always provides a pain and dull ache much deeper than any physical blow could ever inflict. Because to lose, is not only to go without, but to go without something you once had, and something you always thought you would have.

Loss is the deep pang in the pit of your stomach, the hole opened up by what is now gone and the hole through which your happiness and joy seem to slip through.

And ANZAC day, in many respects, is about that loss, a recognition of what was given up and let go through war and conflict.

But sometimes I feel, when we focus too much on what is now gone, we miss what remains. Our preoccupation with the newfound absence, leads to an ignorance of the steadfast presence. Wherever there is loss, there is always legacy. There is memory of what was before, and what it did, and how it made us feel, and what it meant to us, and why it pains us so much now to go without it.

To most people, a legacy is something you long for, it’s something which outlives you, proves you were there, or did this. It shows, more than anything, that you meant something to someone, at sometime. And I think it’s an innate human need to be remembered. We acknowledge the transience of everything we do on earth, but the notion that we can continue on after ourselves in memories can be a very comforting one.

And when we look at ANZAC day, everything we talk about is a legacy. Attaturk’s words - which we’ve heard - make up that legacy, the ode is part of that legacy, and the last post is for that same legacy. But there comes a time when you do think, why are we still here today, remembering those from 100 years ago. Why do we take time out of our school day to reflect on those who’ve gone before? Why do we still care today? Or why do we have to still care today? We end a lot of today’s proceedings with ‘lest we forget’ which literally means 'forbid that we will forget'. But why do we need to make sure we remember?

Sacrifice.

When I looked to define legacy, the most critical part of every definition was the notion of a ‘long lasting impact’.

It was not only that something had occurred, but that it had impacted something, or someone, and that impact continued to be felt, long after it had happened.

And I think we can agree, the most impactful part of a person, is never what they look like, or their turn of phrase, it’s what they do, and often, what they do for you … the sacrifices they make for others

And so it should come as no surprise that this legacy - the ANZAC legacy - is so important, even today, because we’re not talking about any small or insignificant or passing sacrifice, we’re talking about the ultimate sacrifice.

And yes not everyone gave up their life. Thankfully many of the ANZACs got to come home, but even then, there is a very real and very significant sacrifice that comes with conflict and that lives with you as long as you do. Red Gum say this best:

“Doctor can you tell me, why I still can't get to sleep? And why the Channel Seven chopper chills me to my feet? And what’s this rash that comes and goes, can you tell me what it means? God help me, I was only nineteen”

… a very real and very significant sacrifice.

And that warrants remembrance.

Some other cadets and I were fortunate enough to take part in the ANZAC day march - I got to carry a banner for the British paratroopers - but what struck me most about the whole experience, was how grateful they were that we were there.

Not as people to carry a banner or a flag, but as young people there to remember.

We spoke before about our need to be remembered and the particular importance of remembering those who have served. But the thing about memories is if they’re not passed on, they die with those who hold them.

And sometime’s that’s ok, sometimes memories are good to let go, but not these ones, they gave up too much for us to forget.

So this ANZAC Day, and every day, know that you can be a keeper of the memories of something so important to our history and to our future.

And so for those who serve, and who served, and who gave up everything so that you could sit here today, honour them and remember them always… remember that you must never forget.

Lest we forget.

Jeremy Davie Year 12 School Captain