Today students and staff across the whole of Northampton Academy fell silent for Armistice Day.
Led by Sergeant Major Grimes, Cadets from LNR ACF (Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland Army Cadet Force) Anzio Detachment, alongside a student from the Scouts, came to attention in the courtyard to show their respects in Remembrance of our war heroes. This was live-streamed into classrooms for all students to join them in their remembrance.
Following 'The Last Post', two readings were read out over the school tannoy.
Reading 1 - Written by Pericles( philosopher) well over two thousand years ago, long before the first ANZAC Day (25 April 1915), but only a stone’s throw from Gallipoli:
"Each has won a glorious grave - not that sepulchre of earth wherein they lie, but the living tomb of everlasting remembrance wherein their glory is enshrined.
For the whole earth is the sepulchre of heroes. Monuments may rise, and tablets be set up to them in their own land, but on far-off shores, there is an abiding memorial that no pen or chisel has traced; it is graven not on stone or brass, but on the living hearts of humanity. Take these men for your example.
Like them, remember that prosperity can be only for the free, that freedom is the sure possession of those alone who have the courage to defend it."
Reading 2 - This is a famous quote from the founder of modern Turkey, Ataturk. Engraved forever at ANZAC Cove are these words from Kemal Ataturk, the Commander of the Turkish 19th Division during the Gallipoli Campaign and the first President of the Turkish Republic from 1924-1938.
"Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives. You are now living on the soil of a friendly country, therefore, rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours. You, the mothers, who sent their sons from faraway countries, wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land, they have become our sons as well."
Then followed a two-minute silence across the school.