The Fallen

Though dead and fallen
they break down, enrich the earth
bring forth life again

Making the autumn leaf wreath yesterday felt right in terms of commemorating those who not only paid the ultimate price of losing their lives, whether in combat or in the years that followed, but those who continue to serve in the defence forces, and those who have returned who often go on suffering, even when they are no longer in active service.

Disconnected from their life source, autumn leaves go out in a blaze of glory. Their host tree is transformed into a thing of extraordinary beauty, and as they fall in twos and threes the ground becomes a rich carpet. In no time at all though, they are drained of colour, turn brown and dry and rustle under our feet as we wander through. All too soon, autumn winds carry them away or they break down and return to the soil, adding extra nutrients on which other plants can feed come springtime. It may feel like they have been discarded, but their life-giving properties means their immediate habitat can continue being productive.

The Anzac spirit is still alive and well, but those who serve to uphold that spirit are often not. No one can see, hear, taste and smell the maelstrom of war without being affected. Some handle it better than others, making it possible to maintain a long military career or return to a productive civilian life. Some are so haunted by the images permanently seared into their memories that it is almost impossible to escape. Some make drastic choices to escape the trauma, sadly leaving those they love to experience their own prolonged trauma and grief.

It’s only natural to want to stay safe, attached. But there are those who choose to serve and place themselves in harm’s way, something most of us would find incomprehensible. They fall in their twos and threes, they lose their lives, or if not their lives, their spirit, their confidence, their mental health, their belief that their contribution has been of any benefit. They often feel discarded, trodden underfoot, or at the very least, misunderstood.

All the more reason why their sacrifice should be cherished, whether they lost their lives, or continue to live with the physical and mental scars as constant reminders. As the dying leaves live on, so do those whose framed photos sit on mantelpieces and dressers right around the country. They leave a legacy. They continue to enrich our lives.