Many travelling to Darwin for Anzac Day

SYDNEY (AAP) Apr 22- Each year more and more people, from every corner of Australia, travel to Darwin for Anzac Day.
Darwin RSL secretary manager John Lusk says a greater awareness and recognition of Darwin's connection to war is the reason for the increased pilgrimage.
"Nowhere else in Australia can you be in as close proximity to hallowed ground," he told AAP.
"A lot of people are bringing mum or dad up here, because they probably realise that they haven't got many years and this could be their last Anzac Day.
"A lot of them were stationed here in Darwin and Adelaide River."
Now in its 96th year, Anzac day is no longer just about the landing of Australian and New Zealand troops at Gallipoli in World War I - it's a day to commemorate the sacrifices of service men and women in all wars, including those personnel currently serving overseas.
But in Darwin it is not only the diggers and their loved ones who feel the devastation of war.
Civilians in the Northern Territory, too, have been scarred by battle.
Next year will mark 70 years since war reached Australian shores for the first, and thankfully only, time.
On February 19, 1942, just before 10am (CST) Japan launched an air attack on Darwin Harbour, the city and the Darwin RAAF Base.
At least 240 people were killed and a further 400 were injured.
Twenty military aircraft were destroyed, eight ships were sunk and Darwin was reduced to ruins.
"To spend an Anzac day in Darwin, particularly a dawn service, is one you'll never forget," Mr Lusk said.
"You're standing at Stokes Hill Wharf, where all the bombers came over.
"You stand there looking out over the harbour where the Japanese came in - you just picture it.
"It's just such an honour to be standing there."
He said people in Darwin would begin Anzac Day at 5am with a glass of rum and milk, just as they had on April 25 every year since WWI.
He said the RSL had no plans this year to change the route of the march or the location of the dawn service to accommodate the growing crowd numbers, and that past attempts had failed.
Politicians, historians, veterans and survivors of the WWII bombing of Darwin are calling for February 19 to be made a national day of commemoration.