War Memorials in rural towns

I said in Road Trip : 

"country towns try to 'outdo' each other on the lavishness of their memorials"

and I attached this photo of the Boorowa War Memorial:

Not a good photo, I know, but taken through the windscreen of a car as it drove past the memorial it's not too bad - it gives you the idea.

Today I had to take a client to Oncology in Goulburn and while waiting I had my lunch in Belmore Park. Now Belmore Park is situated in the centre of the City of Goulburn, on the site of the original Market Place, Belmore Park is a prominent landmark, popular with residents and visitors alike.

The beautiful Victorian architecture of the Band Rotunda and many varied Civic Monuments are framed by mature trees and colourful floral displays. Belmore Park is the heart and soul of Goulburn. It has been, and continues to be, the place where groups of citizens gather to celebrate events in the life of the city. 

It has fine examples of oak trees growing as central features:

It has a horticultural greenhouse that rarely seems to suffer any damage despite being located in the centre of Australia's very first "Inland City"

There are two War Memorials situated in Belmore Park - the first is the post-World War I Memorial:

The second is the memorial to the World War II fallen and all those who have fallen in conflicts during and since World War II :

Now this is an amazing tribute to all those who served during World War II and in subsequent conflicts following that war who paid the supreme sacrifice. Inscribed with 3,000 names on bronze plates, all in alphabetical order , from "Abernethy to Zdanowski" :

This is the dedication inscribed on that memorial:

If that is not extraordinary enough, then read this little dedication at the base of the main dedication:

As I commented earlier - country towns have a proud history in remembering all those who served and, in particular, all those who gave their lives for their country.

They guard their history jealously and while it would be hard to get anyone from the respective Services Organisations to admit openly to it, they remain steadfastly competitive in their efforts  "... to 'outdo' each other on the lavishness of their memorials. ..."

My own town is no different, having a significant memorial located on the footpath in front of the "Memorial Hall" in the main street.

It is truly amazing how time fails to diminish the myths and legends of our pioneers and how we almost deify them. 

It must be in a similar vein that we continue to feel so indebted to those brave young people who went off to fight so many wars, for whatever their personal reasons, never to return to their native land and remain (mostly) buried in some foreign field.

Lest we Forget!