To my amazement on Anzac Day, I started to receive emails from Belgium from people who had seen our crosses in Australian War cemeteries. The first email was from Georges George Staes from Belgium who said 'I just want to inform you that the cross for Anzac Day and signed by your pupil Jessica D. has found its place at the grave of Cpl Alexander Winsley Murray at Buttes New British Cemetary at Zonnebeke - Belgium. With kindest regards. Georges Staes'  

These people were so touched to see that students all the way over in Australia cared about these fallen soldiers. Mr Frank Evers (reserve - Major (Cavalry) Dutch Army) wrote to the College with the following message:
‘On April, 25th, 2019 I attended a special wreath laying ceremony on Tyne Cot Cemetry, the largest Commonwealth cemetery in the World (near Ypres, Belgium). After the ceremony I got a small wooden cross, given to me by an Australian officer, made by one of your students, Abi G.. 

I must say I was very moved by her simple but very strong and powerful text. My friend, with whom I served in the Dutch Army, in the 80's, and I decided to take it with us, to Brandhoek Military Cemetry # 3, near Ypres. 

There Noel Chavasse is buried, a captain who got a Victoria Cross and Bar (so two VC's !) and the Military Cross. You can read his remarkable history on Wikipedia. I want to thank your student Abi from the bottom of my heart, she gave me -without knowing- such a wonderful and very meaningful morning, on ANZAC-day !’

Another email we received was from Mr Julian Carroll, an Australian living in Brussels. He was given the crosses made by Lily M and Amy Y:
‘Yesterday, Anzac Day, I had the honour of placing messages from each of these students on graves of two Australian soldiers buried in Belgium…

I placed the message of Amy on the grave of an unknown Australian soldier buried in the Tyne Cot Cemetery, one of the largest Commonwealth cemeteries in the world with 11,956 graves and the names of an additional 35,000 soldiers with no known grave engraved on the surrounding walls. The ceremony yesterday included wreath laying from representatives of the Australian and New Zealand governments and other related entities and individuals.

I placed the message of Lily on the grave of Private H. A. McNamara who died on 7 June 1917 aged 23. That grave is located in the Toronto Avenue Cemetery which is unique in Flanders Fields as the only all Australian graveyard with just 78 soldiers buried there.

I hope that you are able to pass on this email to the two students. Please tell them and their classmates that the school program which arranges to send these type of messages to war graves in Europe are very much appreciated.’

Mark & Linley Tomasini rang the College after having attended  the Anzac ceremony at Tyne Cot Cemetery to tell us they had seen our crosses there:
‘It was a privilege for my wife & I to be able to be at Tyne Cot Cemetery in Flanders Belgium on ANZAC day for such an important service that pays respect to the many fallen of the First World War and particularly from the battle for Passendaele …It is a wonderful thought by your College to produce the tribute wooden crosses that remember not only our Australian soldiers but all those who paid the ultimate price .’ 

Another Australian,  Jessica A from Forbes on a Rotary Youth Exchange in Belgium wrote the following:

‘Today the Australian Embassy organised for us Australians in Belgium to celebrate ANZAC Day here in Belgium. At the end of the ceremony we were given crosses with writing on them to put on someone’s grave. I was lucky enough to have got one from one of your students at St Patrick’s College. I thought it was awesome! Could you please send a message to Kassandra to say that I received her thankful words.

Thank you, Jessica’

It is so rewarding to know that our students and their commitment to commemorating the generation who gave so much is being felt across the seas.

Fran Musico Rullo - HSIE Teacher