Memorial Day tribute to our ally Australia

I Treo-blogged about this a couple of weeks ago, but since today is Memorial Day, and I have pictures now, I thought today would be a good day to revisit my encounter with the Australian motorcyclists at the Vicksburg, Mississippi Welcome Center. That's the Misssippi River in front of the men, with Louisiana on the other side. The two bridges are worthy symbols of the relationship between Australia and the United States.

Although it's fairly recent history, many people in the United States forget that besides the South Vietnamese Army, we had other allies in Vietnam. One of them was Australia, which fielded combat forces there until the end of 1972.

Even though the man on the right doesn't proclaim it on the back of his leather vest, he's an Australian Vietnam War veteran as well. I briefly spoke with him, and he expressed suprise that I knew his nation also fought the Communinists in Indo-China. "You must have been in the military, ay?" is what he said to me. I replied I that had not, but that I appreciated his country's frienship with mine.

The two fellows in the picture, along with two other men, were halfway into a cross-country motorcycle tour. As I was that day, they were on their way to the Vicksburg Battlefield.

As the small flag on the back of one of the motorcycles declares the Aussies have fought with us in numerous other conflicts since 1900, including China (the Boxer Rebellion), both World Wars, Korea, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

Australia doesn't have a Memorial Day, but the nation celebrates ANZAC Day each April 25, as does New Zealand. ANZAC is short for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC), and it is a remembrance day for the soldiers who fought against Turkey at Gallipoli during World War I. Over the years, it has evolved into a day celebrating veterans and fallen members of the military.

God Bless Australia!

UPDATE 10:35 PM CST: ThirdWaveDave tipped me off to an Andrea Shea King Voice of Liberty podcast where she reads an e-mail sent to Matt of Blackfive from the father of an Australian soldier serving in Iraq.

Here's an excerpt:

When I come home, you and I we are going to the US, we will buy some bikes and we are going riding...."

And stop by Vicksburg, if you can.

Download the podcast here. It's free.

Related post:

Vicksburg and a teleconference call with John McCain

Thanks for the links:

Australian Politics
Stop the ACLU
The Astute Bloggers

Technorati tags: history Civil War photography photos armed forces Memorial Day Mississippi Australia New Zeland ANZAC Vietnam Vietnam War motorcycles war World War I