Serving Soldier: Why ANZAC Crowds are Growing

Lieutenant Andrew Pham, who served in Iraq was the guest speaker at the Scone ANZAC Day service.

During his speech he focused on why the ANZAC day crowds are growing.

Lt Andrew Pham addressed the ANZAC Day gathering in Scone.

“We shouldn’t be surprised that the crowds are growing, because we would underestimate the spirit of our nation,” said Lt Pham.

He said while some younger generations who had not experienced war still held an appreciation for older generations where “war and death came far too frequently into their lives.”

“In Australia we have a natural disposition to stick together and support each other,” he said.

“It is something that binds us together whether you have been here for a long time, or a short time,” Lt Andrew Pham said.

“ANZAC Day is a day of commemoration and a day to be thankful for the sacrifices that servicemen you have gone before me and have ensured the freedoms and the liberties that we have in this country,” he said.

“It is also a day to remember the people who are currently serving and the sacrifices they continue to make, whether that be in training in Australia or deployed in operations,” he said.

Lt Pham was one such serviceman, having been deployed to Iraq at the end of last year on a training mission.

“We were training the Iraqi army, also providing training to their federal police to aid in the defeat of the daesh,” he said.

The training is hoped to stabilise the region and prevent the need for further conflict involving the ANZAC and allied forces.