Monday 28 April 2014

Anzac Day 2014

Last Friday we commemorated Anzac Day, and for the first time in several years, I wasn't working for the paper. However, with  a daughter in ATC (11 Squadron Air Training Corps District of Hastings) I still had to get up at 0415 to get her down to the Hastings Cenotaph to fall in at 0450, for the Dawn Service.

I shouldn't be surprised, but because I wasn't focusing on work, I saw and heard and imbibed a lot more than usual. And I had the time to stop and talk to people.

It was a very special day, especially as my nephew and a few family friends are also in ATC, and later in the day my 94 year-old father-in-law marched at the 1030 Havelock North service.

And no I wasn't working, but of course I took my camera. Enjoy J

Girls from Sacred Heart College, Napier, waiting for the Dawn Parade photograph
Girls from Sacred Heart College, Napier, waiting for the Dawn Parade

A moment of reflection amongst Nga Pou o Heretaunga in Civic Square photograph
A moment of reflection amongst Nga Pou o Heretaunga in Civic Square

Deco Bay Napier Port Brass Band provided the music photograph
Deco Bay Napier Port Brass Band provided the music for both the New Zealand and the Australian national anthems - the first time I can recall singing the Ausy one.

One of the four Air Training Corps on sentry duty photograph
One of the four Air Training Corps on sentry duty

The band played by torchlight photograph
The band played by torchlight

Still going strong at nearly 90 photograph
Still going strong at nearly 90
 
It's pretty cool attending the Dawn Parade, listening through the darkness as the parade marches up, everyone standing in silence for the entire service, the sound of gunfire for the gun salute and the three planes flying overhead in formation - it's kind of eerie.

A fallen poppy (someone else rescued it before I could) photograph
A fallen poppy (someone else rescued it before I could)

Lest we forget photograph
Lest we forget

Reading the names of those gone before photograph
Reading the names of those gone before

Breakfast entertainment at the Hastings RSA photograph
Breakfast entertainment at the Hastings RSA

New Zealand Army medals photograph
New Zealand Army medals

Beer for brunch photograph
Beer for brunch

11 Squadron Air Training Corps District of Hastings photograph
11 Squadron Air Training Corps District of Hastings, ready for the second parade, in Havelock North

My nephew photograph
My nephew (missing the hat cos there were so many new cadets this year)

My daughter photograph
My daughter, a corporal J

My Dad (left)
My Dad (left), with a mate.

The vets marched surprisingly quickly
The vets marched surprisingly quickly...
 
I can't really describe what I felt as everyone applauded them, but I felt it...

followed by the ATC, photograph
followed by the ATC,

and other community groups photograph
and other community groups.

Sentry duty at the Havelock North Cenotaph photograph
Sentry duty at the Havelock North Cenotaph

The New Zealand Fire Service turned out in force. Most of these guys are probably from the Havelock North Volunteer Fire Brigade photograph
The New Zealand Fire Service turned out in force. Most of these guys are probably from the Havelock North Volunteer Fire Brigade

Squadron leader Mike Wills, 11 Squadron ATC photograph
Squadron leader Mike Wills, 11 Squadron ATC

Ben Vautier, head boy at Hereworth School,  gave the address photograph
Ben Vautier, head boy at Hereworth School, gave the address

The next generation photograph
The next generation

War veterans photograph
War veterans, including women

L-R: Cr Malcolm Dixon and deputy mayor Cynthia Bowers laid a wreath on behalf of the Hastings District Council photograph
L-R: Cr Malcolm Dixon and deputy mayor Cynthia Bowers laid a wreath on behalf of Hastings District Council

11 Squadron Air Training Corps District of Hastings laid a wreath photograph
11 Squadron Air Training Corps District of Hastings laid a wreath
 
Present arms photograph
Present arms

War medals photograph
War medals

Not sure I could stay still that long - sentry duty at Havelock North Cenotaph photograph
Not sure I could stay still that long

Marching off, next stop the Havelock North Club. I'm proud of my Dad photograph
Marching off, next stop the Havelock North Club. I'm proud of my Dad

Many young people wore their grandparents' medals photograph
Many young people wore their grandparents' medals

Organisers report that a lot more children attended this year's services photograph
Organisers report that a lot more children attended this year's services

Poppies placed on the Cenotaph after the service photograph
Poppies placed on the Cenotaph after the service

Okay, I admit it, I love all the medals photograph
Okay, I admit it, I love all the medals

A young lad from Hereworth School, Havelock North photograph
A young lad from Hereworth School, Havelock North
 
"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.
We will remember them."

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