>> Measured in terms of the people who observe it with some degree of
>> feeling, today is arguably New Zealand's most holy day. Also, I
>> imagine, Australia's.

To clear up a misunderstanding for those who read OT but don't follow 
links -

ANZAC day commemorates the Allied forces campaign in Turkey in WW1 
when thousands of British and NZ and Australian and Turkish (and 
other) troops died in an attempt to implement or prevent a plan 
proposed by Winston Churchill.

The aim was to capture the gun positions along the Turkish held 
Dardanelles in order to open up the sea route to Russia and thereby 
open a line of supply behind the Germans.

The campaign failed miserably. BUT came within a whisker of 
succeeding, but the attackers never knew this at the time. If it had 
succeeded it would almost certainly have substantially changed the 
course of WW1. This was our WW1 equivalent of the D-Day landings, but 
for various reasons, we failed where the D-Day landings succeeded.

Each year NZers and Australians and others visit the landing grounds 
and cemeteries and are welcomed by their friends and one time enemies 
the Turks.

It's an EXTREMELY special day for us.



        Russell McMahon




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