Fort Benning soldiers and family members gathered at the 173rd Airborne Brigade Memorial Saturday to honor the legacy of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.
Anzac Day is a National Day of Remembrance in Australia and New Zealand. It was initially created to honor the members of the Australian and New Zealand Corps (ANZAC) who were part of an Allied Powers expedition in 1915 that set out to capture the Gallipoli Peninsula from the Ottoman Empire during World War I. The resulting fighting was fierce and left over 8,000 Australian and over 2,000 New Zealander soldiers dead.
Anzac Day is commemorated on April 25 every year, the date that the ANZACs landed at Gallipoli. The meaning of Anzac Day has evolved over time to include all Australians and New Zealanders killed in military operations.
Events such as the annual Anzac Day ceremony demonstrate Fort Benning and the Maneuver Center of Excellence’s commitment to recognizing the histories, traditions and contributions of allied nation militaries with personnel stationed on the installation.
The ceremony emphasizes the longstanding relationship between the United States and Australia. The 173rd Airborne Brigade Sky Soldier Memorial is the only memorial where the names of American and Australian servicemembers killed in action appear alongside one another.
