The ABC reports on ever more elaborate rites being laid on at the War Memorial.
Speaking as someone who used to go to the dawn service back when it fitted inside the memorial* I’m increasingly disturbed by the trend this is part of.
The national anthem will be played, the public will be able to lay wreaths and a uniformed member of the defence force will read a short account of the life of one of the people on the memorial’s Roll of Honour.
The daily ceremony will end with the playing of the last post and it will also be streamed on the internet.
The Memorial’s director Brendan Nelson says he felt a more meaningful closing ceremony was needed.
It started under the Howard Government, the ever increasing fetishism of Anzac as the last veterans who could have told them off finally disappeared.
Conservatives have always liked the authoritarian nature of Christianity, but it’s imperfect for them.
That hippy preaching love, forgiveness and running the bankers out of the temple? Troubling.
Whereas a militaristic death cult immortalising the sacrifice of the young for the maintenance of the old men’s position of power?
Wrap it in a flag, play the last post, and bow your head as you walk past their name etched in bronze?
That’s more like it isn’t it?
* The author comes from multi-generational service family and is all in favour of remembering the fallen. But all things should be in moderation.
UPDATE: The memorial’s media release is available in full.