ANZAC Day, Loxton War Memorial

ANZAC DAY
Dawn Service
25 April, 2010


“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things…and the God of peace will be with you.” The Apostle Paul, Philippians 4:8, 9b


The dawn of April 25th on the shores of Gallipoli marked the beginning of a time of tragedy and valor, grief and courage, struggle and honour. Ideals were defended, friendships were forged, families were shattered, lives were lost. For those who battled, the outcome was far from certain. But they fought for the benefit of others. Through their toil, and that of many who endured the conflicts that followed, our present way of life was secured.

God calls us to remember. He calls us to remember the efforts of those who were willing to pay the highest price. Many sacrifices went unheralded. Many acts of bravery were unnoticed. Many stories were never told. God alone knows the unseen acts of heroism in faraway lands. But we need not know the details to remember. Remembering is not merely a passive activity but the motivation for imitation. We are called to imitate everything that is noble, excellent, and admirable.

In war there are no insincere prayers, no half-hearted pleas to God, no trivial cries for safety, no meaningless moments of peace. Efforts at thankfulness are purified. Life is cherished in a way never imagined important before. In war people see the face of evil and experience the forces of darkness. But they are also drawn near to the presence of God and come to a profound understanding of what matters most.

We honour those who died in sacrifice, not to glamorize their persons but to immortalize their commitment. Of their own personal fears, doubts, dreams or hopes; their struggles, thoughts or misgivings, succeeding generations can only guess. But we can be certain of the price they paid. This gift to us we cannot forget. We cannot know the future but we have been taught by those who shaped the past.

Those who do not learn the mistakes of the past are doomed to repeat them. So too, those who do not cherish the liberties passed down from others risk losing them. Generations come and go but the stability of a free society rests on the shared commitment to the values which govern it. The past is not forgotten when it lives on, not only in memory but in the active maintenance of what has been given. Let us not merely live off the capital of their investment but defend the freedoms which they secured. Liberty brings with it both privilege and responsibility.

“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things…and the God of peace will be with you.” Peace is a gift easily taken for granted. God alone can give it.

As we remember them this day we are thankful for the freedom to worship our gracious God without fear. May the Almighty God, for the sake of His Son, grant us the courage to use this freedom wisely, the ability to defend it honourably, and the generosity to extend it to others!


Pastor Darrin Kohrt
Concordia & Outlying Lutheran Congregations