The highlight of today was a memorial service as we cruised slowly around Anzac Cove. It was a commemoration I will never forget. The choir led the passengers in singing amazing Grace and Eternal Father Strong to Save. Then an ex-member of the Army, Navy and Air Force said a prayer of thanksgiving a prayer for the queen and a prayer for the nation respectively. The choir sang Now is the Hour and Waltzing Matilda which brought a tear or two to the eyes of most people and this was followed by a very fitting commemoration address by Deacon Harvey Dalton. Two of the officers then processed with the wreath, which they threw overboard while the trumpeter played The Last Post and Reveille. After singing Abide with Me, we finished by singing the Australian anthem, the New Zealand anthem and God Save the Queen. While this ceremony was being enacted, we could see the lone pine in the distance, but because it was hazy it was difficult to get some good pictures of it. The following words by Kemel Ataturk are engraved forever at Anzac Cove:
Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives…..
You are now living in the soil of a friendly country.
Therefore, rest in peace.
There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us
Where they lie side by side, here in this country of ours.
You, the mothers,
Who sent their sons from faraway countries…….
Wipe away your tears;
Your sons are now lying in our bosom
And are in peace.
After having lost their lives on this land
They have become our sons as well.
Tonight as we sail towards Santorini, we have watched a pink sunset, and later a full moon over the Aegean Sea. We were entertained this evening by an Englishman, Mark Donoghue. He played the violin, the piano, the guitar and the harmonica all with the backing of the Dawn Princess orchestra, which is made up of eight talented musicians. Mark also sang. He is also very talented. At one stage, using the guitar, he sang Vincent, and projected scenes from Vincent van Gogh’s paintings that suited each line of the song onto a large screen. We are fortunate to be able to see so many different really good musicians. (Barbara) Singing outside in a hot sun is very different from singing in air-conditioned comfort but overall I think we did a pretty good job. (Bill)
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