Memorial plaque laid on the wrecks of the Perth and Houston by Australian divers.
Posted on 11/11/2011 7:16:18 PM PST by naturalman1975
The ceremony at Honolulu's picturesque Punchbowl Cemetery was Ms Gillard's first official engagement of her trip for the APEC leaders' summit.
Just a few kilometres from the site of the infamous Pearl Harbor attack of World War 2, Ms Gillard was given a 19-gun salute as she arrived at the cemetery.
She told the crowd of veterans and their families it was a great privilege to be with them.
"In this beautiful and hallowed American place where so many of America's own lie in graves which they found too soon you would be well entitled to say: They died for us. This is a day and a place for ourselves alone," she said.
"But we Australians know that this is not your way.
"Because we know that so many of these buried here died for us too.
"When we were under attack in the Pacific, so many of these buried here were among those who came to our aid.
"They fought with us, together, side by side, step by bloody step."
It was US sailors during the Battle of the Coral Sea that eliminated Australia's fears of a Japanese invasion, she said.
"It is a battle which is immortal in Australia," she said.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
It was US sailors during the Battle of the Coral Sea that eliminated Australia’s fears of a Japanese invasion, she said.
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and the fears of the New Zealanders too...
When my brother was in the NZ Royal Navy during Nam his ship went to the “Coral Sea Days” exercise with the Australian Navy and the American Navy...
His ship would go to Honolulu on a good will tour after that week..
Very good. Thank you, Ma’am.
Thanks for posting the link to the single greatest anti-war ballad of our time.
I weep every time...
You want another, from Lemmy of all people:
Motorhead - 1916
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqFoqtpUFY8
That will bring on some tears. Very touching.
she has more american patriotism than our leaders and thedemocrat party
she has more american patriotism than our leaders and thedemocrat party
Absolutely right!
Thanks naturalman1975.
You have completed what has been a very good Veteran’s Day for me with your links. Thanks for sharing.
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