On the battlefields of Pozières, France, in 1916, a mortally wounded soldier turned to journalist Charles Bean and used his dying breath to ask, "Will they remember me in Australia?"
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
For the past 105 years Australians have gathered in the streets of towns and cities on Anzac Day to answer this question in the most public of ways. We will always remember them.
But this year will be different. In place of the usual ceremonies, many of us embraced the Light Up The Dawn initiative of the RSL, and marked the day with a dawn vigil in our driveway.
Story continues below video
Who you're standing for: Family, loved ones, and all those who serve
Daniel Mibus: My great-grandfather. Western front. He was gassed and wounded multiple times but returned home.
Daryl Purchase: Standing for dad.
Kathy Hetherington Simons: Standing for my grandfather who served during World War I in the Middle East and New Guinea. Also my husband's father, who was captured in Java and was a prisoner of war in Japan. Standing at the top of our road in the country and sharing this with our six-year-old granddaughter.
Megan Kannar: For my grandfather and great uncle.
Leanne Wilkinson: I'll be standing in Bundaberg, my grandfather served.
Alex Glover: I will be remembering my late father and my late father-in-law and mother-in-law; also the Vietnam veterans who did not come home.
Larry Kling: Standing with pride for Dad - RAAF in World War II;
My wife's family
A. Crilly, 1st. Raid Singapore (Krait)
P. Crilly, Rat of Tobruk, New Guinea
My friend M. Sweeney
Battle of Long Tan. Lest we forget.
My niece, still serving - Sergeant Julie Kling
And all our servicemen and women.
Heather Farrell: I will be holding a candle in my driveway remembering my father-in-law and my great uncles.
Susan Beasley: I will be standing for my granddad David in World War I, and Peter's uncle, captured at Ambon.
Rosemary Perry: My father, a prisoner of war in Changi during World War II; and my grandfather, Western Front in Ypres in World War I. Lest we forget.
Marianne Mitchell: For my Dad.
Teagan Roche: In Warracknabeal for my husband who served in Afghanistan for eight months and also for all the mates he served beside and for the brothers they lost.
Renee Snell: My dad, middle front, usually marches every year wearing his, his father's and his grandfather's medals so I'll be standing for them. Lest we forget.
Karen Kennedy: Newton Bernard Kennedy of the 2/24th Battalion in North Africa. Died as a prisoner of war in World War II in Germany. My husband's uncle. Recently we came upon family papers that told of two men who were with him until he died. The story is harrowing and I cried my eyes out reading it.
Chris Roche: In Warracknabeal for my mates who I lost when I was serving overseas.
William Dookie Abernethy: For all our soldiers
Lani Crystal Finn: Standing and singing for all war veterans past and present at Brooke Court, while a lone soldier marches at 6am. Lest we forget.
Aris Imbardelli: Those who didn't return.
Tonia Baxter: My father George Alfred Seaman. My dear Dad was a paratrooper in the second world war, his nx is NX83826, he passed away on the 16.2.2018. He marched with his para mates every year for fifty odd years, he was in a tent with three other men and their friendship over the many years was really a bond hard to believe. They became known as the "Tuesday Boys" and every Tuesday rain hail or shine as Dad would say I'm off to meet the fella's to have a few drinks and a talk. It was the day they all looked forward to. One by one every year as I would take Dad to the Anzac March as he was very old in the end, I watched them go one by one. What a legend they were, the tears are falling, as I miss my beloved Dad so very much. This is my story of the wonderful father I was so blessed to have.
Share who you're Lighting Up The Dawn for here:
More Anzac Day coverage: