[NickH]

Like many people (I guess), before I came here, I had only the haziest idea about Anzac day and what it meant to Kiwis. This morning was my first opportunity to take part in an Anzac ceremony here in Takapuna and I can say it was a very moving experience. For starters, the weather has cooled quite a bit over the last couple days, and although still sunny, this morning just felt the 'right' temperature to commemorate such an important occasion.

It was largely what you expect from a traditional Cenotaph ceremony; There was a stiring mach-past of the veterans and Service personnel. Then the Last Post, laying of wreaths etc. and a couple of hymns Also, an old veteran got up to say how we shouldn't even consider making any changes to the NZ flag. That got a big round of applause!

I knew Anzac day was to remember the dead of Gallipoli in Turkey during the first World War. But more than that, it represents the time when New Zealand started making its own decisions in the world. So rather than fighting the war because the Brits told them to, it became their own decision and their own consequences. Huge numbers of young men where killed and injured, both Pakeha and Maouri. As a percentage of the overall population, it was one of the highest death-rates in the war.

My apologies to those who already know such things. I didn't when I arrived and now I do. And I'm pleased I'm learning about this great country I starting to call home.



Nick

[annaerb]

We went to the ANZAC Parade for the first time too and I'm a Kiwi :oops:
We went to the one at Auckland Museum and it was great to see young & Old there. It was very moving and brought a few tears too.
It was an experience and hopefully something our kids will remember us taking them too when they are older.
Glad you had the opportunity to go.

carol

[GeorgeM]

We were at Sumner in the rain. It was good to see that the weather didn't appear to have that much of an effect on turnout compared to previous years. When you think what would have happened to the world if these guys hadn't stepped up it would be a real insult if people didn't turn out just because it was a bit wet. Certainly the conditions in Wakefield Ave were better than at Galipoli in 1915 or Crete in 1940 or Monte Casino in 1944 or a whole host of other places.

For those of you who live in or visit Christchurch go out to Sumner and walk along the Esplanade. The lampposts carry the names of battles where kiwis fought in the twentieth century (and there are so many of them). They certainly weren't given the easy jobs. Leaves a real lump in your throat if you know your history and understand the significance of some of those places - Pachendaele, Tobruk, Alamein

I found it very moving to see the old guys wearing their Africa Stars and Italy Stars - the same as my dad had for being with the Sherwood Foresters and Royal Corps of Signals as part of the Eighth Army. He's gone now, and no doubt every ANZAC parade is the final one for a significant proportion of those who are left. I hope that in 20 years time, when there are few combatants left, that we still turn out to remember the sacrifices made by these ordinary people and of the evil which caused them to do it.