21/04/2026
ANZAC DAY 2026 – a Veterans view
“…on 25 April, I will thank God for the good we have done. I will pray for a peace in the world and amongst Australians, then along with veteran colleagues, we will march through Brisbane as “Veterans Peacemakers,” hoping our witness inspires all Australians to promote and live in peace, and be ready to risk their
lives to restore it when threatened” …
Dear friends, peace be with you.
On 25 April every year we gather to remember and pray for those who have given their lives in service and sacrifice in the cause of peace. It is our pre-eminent national commemoration and a day of national pride and unity. We also honour and re-dedicate ourselves to the ANZAC spirit of courage, commitment, service, mateship, and compassion.
This year’s commemoration is bittersweet for me and some veteran colleagues. We witness ongoing conflict and suffering in the Middle East, and are bewildered by the unjust actions of the President of our long-term US ally. Divisive Afghanistan war crimes trials also loom. These trigger emotional responses from the injustice and suffering we’ve seen, when we want to focus on the Goodness “ANZAC Day signifies: respectful remembrance of fallen comrades, promoting peace, and contributing daily to a better world.
ANZAC Day should remind our nation of the positive contributions of our troops in restoring peace in many regional conflicts. We can be proud of nearly 100 peacekeeping operations since World War II, albeit at a massive cost of lives lost or wounded. For us veterans, the wider Community celebration of ANZAC Day is vital, reminding veterans, many who still suffer, that their service and sacrifice is honoured and appreciated, and reminding our society that we went there on your behalf.
This year is particularly significant for me as I reflect on my peacemaking and peacekeeping service in the Iran-Iraq conflict (1989-90), where our dialogue and engagement restored peace that was sustained for 35 years. Recent merciless bombardments by regimes in Tel Aviv and Washington against Tehran, defy
comprehension. As a trained tactician and strategist, now turned chaplain, my military colleagues and I are astounded by this catastrophic, illegal campaign with predictable global impacts, especially on the poor.
Perhaps this ANZAC day speaks to us, as indeed Pope Leo has done in recent weeks: “Enough! Put down your swords. Stop dropping your bombs on innocent victims. Recognise our common umanity.”
The strategies used by some allies in Iraq and Afghanistan, and current actions by Israel and the US, contrast with how Australian troops handle conflict. We operate with minimum and discriminate use of force, maximum community engagement, “Just War “ principles, and a peaceful end state in mind. However, when paired with allies who do not conform to our behaviour, its perhaps inevitable there will be a few that “cross the line.” Then according to our Laws, we justly hold to account those alleged to have breached these concepts. As an Australian veteran with 48 years in uniform and service in seven conflicts, and a friend of many American service people, I am over us being dragged into wars by US Governments whose values and strategies diverge from ours. Soldiers will implement what governments order, but I call on our people and politicians, when considering committing us to operations, that these embody the ANZAC spirit of courage, commitment, compassion, and common sense to stand up for RIGHT over wrong; LAW over chaos, COMPASSION over cruelty, and PEACE over war. Yes, we desire to be peacemakers, but never again commit us to operations without likelihood of strategic success or clear end states. Many veterans carry lifelong scars, from the hopelessness of missions that politicians and military hierarchy have thrust upon us.
I have written about war and peace before and am surprised by the silence in Australia. All Australians must play their part in promoting peace. My primary consolation comes from my faith which calls me to be peacemaker, and Pope Leo’s recent courageous echoes of the Gospel of Jesus of Nazareth:
“…Stop it. It’s time for peace; sit at a table of dialogue and mediation; listen and come together; stop killing and threatening each other with death; enough of the idolatry of self and money; enough of displays of power; enough of war; true strength is shown in serving life…”
Our veterans and much of the world echo these sentiments. We must be proactive to avoid repeating these mistakes.
For me, this year’s ANZAC Day is a poignant moment to promote and celebrate peace.
Our Creator desires peace among all humanity. We are meant to be brothers and sisters in a universal society of love, joy, and care. Having mediated “toe to toe”, without a weapon, with angry armed extremists in Iran, and survived, I affirm that escalating violence is not the answer. We have the right to defend ourselves, but must
never see initiating violence as a solution.
As I pray at St Stephens Cathedral on 25 April, I will thank God for the good we have done. I will pray for a peace in the world and in Australia, that is free from bitterness, resentment, and violence. Along with veteran colleagues and my sons, we will march through Brisbane as “Veterans Peacemakers”, hoping our witness inspires all Australians to promote and live in peace and be ready to risk their lives to restore it when threatened.
Finally, may we be uplifted by Pope Leo’s Palm Sunday prayer: Send forth your Spirit, that promotes life over death and turns adversaries into brothers and sisters.
I’ve seen that can happen.
Peace is possible.
Padre Gary Stone OAM
