A few notes for the new guys for tomorrow

So tomorrow will be my 12th ANZAC Day.I'll proudly wear my coke bottle, as I earned it, and I encourage others to do the same.Did you know only 4% of the Australian population has an ADM? I didn't.They're your medals, you earned them, wear them with pride. If you have anything more than an ADM, you've done even more for your country that even less have achieved.But, there's a few things I'd like to point out as observations, I'm sure others will add more:1) Do not write yourself off. Absolutely positively do not get so drunk that you make an absolute tosser of yourself.Yes this is "our" day given to us by the Australian people to thank all of us who served, but it is also a day to reflect, remember, have a beer, talk, reminisce about the good days and those we have lost, either in war, or to the demons they cane home with.This is not a day to get yourself blind rotting drunk and start fights with civilians.I've heard people talk it up as "I need to have a drink to remember everyone that has fallen", no one has that level of stamina, you'll just get alcohol poisoning. Just don't do it.Have a couple, but remember, making a drunken raging fool of yourself is not a good way to honour the fallen.2) Don't go out in uniform (Army), this leads on from point 1.A few ruined it, and a few still get carried away, don't be that guy on TPE out in his Polys and fronting the RSM on Tuesday morning. It makes us all look like a fool.3) Reconsider it if you're Navy and Air Force.I don't have any of your hats in my cupboard (yet), but Army will still try.4) Keep your mates safe!If you have a mate that ignores point 1, don't just leave them be, it's 2021, get an Uber, stick him in it, have him pay you back on payday. It's simple.If he argues, go with him, yeah it's a downer on your day of bring sensible, but I'd like to think mateship is stronger than your desire to keep on keeping on.Don't leave him upside down in a bush and carry on. That's not mateship.5) Remember them.This is the biggest point, this day is not about you, not about your personal sacrifices, ultimately, it's about the fallen. You did your part, you can talk about it.I'm going to jump online tonight and find myself a Digger on the Australian War Memorial Roll and read their story.If your attention span is too small for that, watch a Last Post Ceremony and learn the story of someone.Have a chat about them tomorrow, tell their story to others. Don't forget them.That's what tomorrow is about.6) Chat to the veteransTheir stories are awesome.Make them feel young again.