Pastor’s moving tribute to sacrifice & courage
Nambour RSL Pastor Kerry Evans: “They offered their lives in the service of something greater than themselves.”
No group of Australians has given more:
With heads bowed and hearts heavy, a large crowd at the service in Nambour’s Quota Memorial Park heard a poignant prayer led by Nambour RSL Pastor Kerry Evans, pictured.
Pastor Evans’ invoked the memory of the brave souls who fought for Australia’s freedom and paid tribute to ANZAC spirit. “On the shores of the Gallipoli Peninsula, those who took part in that ill-fated operation have all gone, and yet those men and that day still remain in our memory,” he said.
“On this day, above all days, we remember our heritage as a nation with a sense of humility, reverence, and overwhelming pride. We pause on this day to remember not only those young Australians who paid the ultimate sacrifice in wars then, but to all who have served since and those currently serving to defend this nation.
“No group of Australians have given more nor worked harder to shape our values and beliefs than those who have worn and now wear the uniform of the Royal Australian Navy, Army and Royal Australian Air Force. They offered their lives in the service of something greater than themselves. They gave their tomorrow for our today. We are grateful, never forgetting nor failing to esteem their sacrifices nor the price of freedom cruelly calculated in human blood and those who returned from armed conflict and peacekeeping missions are among us today and we thank you.
“You are deserving of our enduring gratitude. And so in our way, individually and together we stand united to remember the commitment, the sacrifice, and courage.”
