Stateside With Rosalea Barker
2008 ANZAC Day Commemorative Ceremony in San Francisco
The ceremony began with the U.S. Marine Corps Color Guard leading the procession of representatives from Australia, New
Zealand, the United Kingdom, Turkey and the USA.
This year’s ANZAC Day Commemorative Ceremony in San Francisco was held on Sunday, April 27, in the Log Cabin in the Presidio. The Presidio had been home to the military forces of three nations—Spain, Mexico, and the United States—between 1776
and 1994. when it was turned over a trust, which manages it as a part of the National Park Service. Prior to the Spanish arriving, the area had been home to the Ohlone Indians for more than a thousand years.
Richard Collier Sears, Honorary Consul of New Zealand, gives the reading. On his lapel is a sprig of rosemary, an
ancient symbol of remembrance and significant because it wild in the area around Gallipoli.
After the reading, Col. (ret) Ertugrul Turhal delivered Kemal Ataturk’s Lines on Anzac, and Lt. Lincoln Trainor of the
Royal Australian Navy spoke about the significance of Anzac Day. “We celebrate today no military victory, but the
triumph of human valor,” he said. Wreaths were then laid on the mantel of the Log Cabin’s fireplace to commemorate the
dead of all four nations.
Wreaths for the fallen from Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.
Following the ode For the Fallen and a recitation, The Last Post and Reveille were sounded with a minute’s silence in
between, and a verse from all four national anthems, plus the Star Spangled Banner, was sung. After closing comments by
the Hon. David Lawson, Consul-General of Australia, we all trooped out into the bright noonday sun to mingle over
barbecue fare and some ablations.
Warming up for some footy.
Lt. Trainor faces a strong bowler. In the background are some of the nearly 500 historic buildings in the Presidio.
Off to a good start.
--PEACE—