Joint Task Force 633 pauses to commemorate Anzac legacy
26 April 2010
Australian Servicemen and women serving across the Middle East gathered to remember their fallen forefathers and comrades in solemn services yesterday morning.
Dawn Service ceremonies were held in Afghanistan, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf States and in the Gulf of Aden.
Deputy Commander Joint Task Force 633 Commodore Roger Boyce addressed a large gathering of ADF and Coalition personnel during a Dawn Service at Al Minhad Air Base, United Arab Emirates, and said that commemorating Anzac Day in an operational area was especially moving.
"I would ask that you reflect on the sacrifice made by the 13 Australians and the many Coalition allies who have given their lives in this Middle East Area of Operation since 2001," Commodore Boyce said.
"I would ask that you also recognise the grief and courage of those they have left behind."
The Deputy Commander's address was particularly poignant as Mr David McCarthy, father of Signaller Sean McCarthy, who was killed in Afghanistan on 8th July 2008, joined with ADF personnel at the Dawn Service.
The Australian National Flag used during the Dawn Service was presented to Signaller McCarthy's parents after it had been used to drape his casket on the long journey from Tarin Kowt to Australia.
Elsewhere in the Middle East Area of Operations, the crew of HMAS Parramatta watched dawn break over the flight deck of their frigate while patrolling the Gulf of Aden.
Soldiers in Iraq's Security Detachment saw the sun rise over Baghdad and services were held in several locations throughout Afghanistan.
The Special Operations Task Group held a formal service at their Camp Russel home base, but also paused operations in the Gizab region to mark the special day.
Soldiers from the 1st Mentoring Task Force hosted Minister for Defence, Senator John Faulkner, in a large ceremony while members of the Rotary Wing Group and other personnel in Kandahar held a service at Camp Baker.
Personnel serving in Kabul were joined by many ISAF colleagues in
commemorating the sacrifice of Australian and New Zealand servicemen and
women through the decades.
