Anzac Day ceremonies honour servicemen and women

Anzac Day ceremonies to remember service and sacrifice.

Anzac Day 2013

Anzac Day ceremonies are being held in cities and towns around Australia and overseas on 25 April to mark the 98th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings of World War I.
Australian Defence Force personnel deployed on operations overseas, including in Afghanistan and the Solomon Islands, will participate in local Anzac Day commemorations.
More than 3000 Australian service men and women are serving on operations, continuing the Anzac spirit while serving Australia’s national interests.
The sailors, soldiers and airmen and women of Australia’s Federation Guard will lead Australia’s ceremonial contingent at Anzac Day services being held at Gallipoli in Turkey, Villers-Bretonneux in France and Ypres, Belgium.
As well, thousands of past and present servicemen and women will participate in Anzac Day ceremonies being held around Australia.
Anzac Day commemorations remember the original ANZACs who died on 25 April 1915 and honour the men and women who have served in wars, conflicts, peacekeeping, disaster relief and humanitarian assistance missions.

71st Anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin commemorations

(L to R) Commander 1st Brigade Brigadier John Frewen, Commander Northern Command, Air Commodore Ken Watson, Commanding Officer of HMAS Coonawarra, Commander Ben Favelle salute after laying a wreath at the USS Peary Memorial Service in Darwin.

Top End Defence personnel have honoured the courage and the sacrifice of those who perished during the first and largest enemy attack on Australian soil.
Supporting the 71st Anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin commemorations, Defence members helped recount the events of 19 February 1942 with a Royal Australian Air Force fast jet flypast and ceremonial gunfire by the Army’s 8th/12th Regiment RAA.
The Bombing of Darwin was the first of more than 90 Japanese air raids across the Top End of Australia from February 1942 until November 1943.
Commander Northern Command Air Commodore Ken Watson said the event was a defining moment in Australia’s history.
“Until recently the events of this day have remained largely untold and yet this was the day that a small community fought with desperation against overwhelming odds to defend their homeland,” Air Commodore Watson said.
The first wave of 188 aircraft attacked Darwin at 9:58am on Thursday, 19 February 1942 from four Japanese Navy carriers steaming approximately 450km to the north-west. All four ships had participated in the attack on Pearl Harbour two months prior.
About 243 people were confirmed dead and between 320 and 500 injured. Eight ships (naval and civilian) were sunk in the harbour including USS Peary, in which more than 80 American sailors perished.
“As members of the Australian Defence Force it is a great privilege to help recognise the sacrifice of the men and women who gave their lives in order to preserve our freedom today,” Air Commodore Watson said.
On 7 December 2011, the Governor-General proclaimed February 19 a National Day of Observance, to be known as “Bombing of Darwin Day” in honour of those who fell during the attack.

The 71st anniversary reunion of the Doolittle Raiders

B-25 re-enactors demonstrate the launching of aircraft during the Doolittle Raid

The Doolittle Raiders walk around a B-25 named Special Delivery, being the only B-25 that has the Doolittle Raiders crest painted as nose art

Retired Lt. Col. Dick Cole, Doolittle Raider co-pilot Crew 1, sits in the cockpit of a B-25, "Special Delivery," reliving the day of the Doolittle Raid