Finally someone had the guts to make the right decision. The removal of the phrase Known unto God was recommended by the memorials director Brendan Nelson, the former minister of defence in the Howard government, and approved by its council, the Daily Telegraph reports. However, the decision has been reversed after complaints to the Abbott government. We do not know this Australians name, we never will . . . He is one of them, and he is all of us, the replacement quote was slated to read. In a compromise the Keating quote will now be displayed on a bronze plaque at the entrance to the tomb along with others from a 1993 speech by the former prime minister. The council did approve it but they have revised the decision recently so the words Known Unto God will remain, a memorial spokeswoman said. The original proposal reportedly provoked the ire of veterans, who believe it is sacrilegious to delete the word God. Historian Les Carlyon, said he was annoyed by the initial decision. These are the perfect three words, he said. A lot of thought went into it. Known unto God has a meaning in the context of the Great War. To take it off you just think to yourself why? The unknown soldier is one of an estimated 23,000 Australians killed during World War I. Source: Daily Telegraph Author: Martin Zavan, Approving editor: Nick Pearson
Posted on: Wed, 30 Oct 2013 05:55:47 +0000