Happy Australia Day!! January 26, 2008

Hello Family! Wanted to share this unique holiday with everyone at home. January 26th is Australia Day. This isn't like our independance day because Australia is still "dependant" on the Queen. This is the day that Aussies celebrate the things that make them Australian. There are fireworks, "barbies" and friends playing beach cricket! Rob & I were given our very first Australian Flag a few weeks ago. We mounted it up on the front of our house, with our beautiful American flag on the left (the place of honor). We love it here in Australia but we will always be Americans!
Happy Australia Day everyone, thank God for the Aussies, our closest allies and mates. They have fought beside Americans in EVERY conflict since our Civil War, and they are with us now in Iraq. We have always affected each others history and civil development. When the British lost us in the American Revolution, the Brits decided to begin to actively occupy this land of Australia. The French came very close to settling both America and Australia. In fact, the term ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corp) came from the battle of Gallipoli, when Australia and New Zealand were fighting with the Americans during World War I.
Many people do not know that Australia was also attacked on their home field in World War II just like us Americans. The Japanese bombed northern Queensland and were fought off by Australians and Americans that were stationed here. Australia stayed in the Pacific to fight with the Americans in World War II, instead of following orders from Britian to come and fight in Europe. There is a song called "The Pub with No Beer" that was written by a poor Aussie bloke who stumbled into a pub that had been drank dry by the American GIs. To date, it is the only time that an Australian pub has ever ran out of beer!!
So, Here's to you, our friend the Australian, always an ally, a battle buddy and a mate for life!!! Cheers!!!