Veterans slam disrespectful ‘Lest We Regret’ Anzac Day party

While most recognise the importance of the words “lest we forget”, a recent marketing campaign from a central Queensland hotel has stirred up controversy with the promotion of a “Lest We Regret” party, which some veterans say shows a “lack of respect”.

The three-day Anzac Day gig is being organised by The Strand Hotel, which is located on the corner of Anzac Parade in the rural Queensland town of Yeppoon. The Facebook advertisement for the event prominently displays the words “Bombs Away” and “#lestweregret”, with the caption reading: “Let’s commemorate the diggers who kept us safe and sacrificed so much for us,” with the hashtags #lestweforget and #lestweregret. The accompanying poster prominently features the name of the headline band, Bombs Away.

The hashtag #lestweregret has been criticised for undermining the real meaning and importance of the words “Lest We Forget”, which have long been synonymous with remembrance and commemoration of the sacrifice of those who have served and the ones who never made it home.

Long-time member of New Zealand’s RSA and Yeppoon RSL’s newest member Des Glass, 86, told ABC News the words undermine the fallen.

“I don’t think ‘party’ is quite the word I’d use,” Glass said. “It should be Lest We Forget, because to say regret undermines the people who went and died because they went for a [reason] and they’re not regretting it. It was quite a human tragedy for the ones who were killed, but they went with their eyes open. They wouldn’t like to think that it was a regret, because that means that they shouldn’t have gone and they don’t say that at all.”

The hotel’s general manager Wesley Thompson told ABC News the event was never meant to be distasteful and was instead designed to honour the Anzacs and promote local musicians.