Derek Flynn 145704WE WILL REMEMBER: Former and current servicemen gather for the Anzac Day dawn parade in Picton this morning.
Courtesy of The Marlborough Express
Maike van der Heide and Jo Gilbert - Marlborough
Friday, 25 April 2008
Generations of Marlburians turned out in their droves to the region's two Anzac Day dawn parades to honour those who were lost and who returned from battles overseas.
Both the Seddon and Picton services attracted larger crowds than last year.
In Picton, hundreds of people, including many children, gathered in silence at the seafront war memorial for the traditional service.
The parade, led by the Blenheim and Districts Highland Pipe Band, included former and current servicemen, members of the Picton police and volunteer fire brigade and local scouts and sea scouts.
Commander of the New Zealand Defence College, Captain Gwyn Rees, touched many in the crowd by speaking of a Picton soldier, James Alfred Godfrey, who is buried in Belgium but whose name is inscribed on Picton's war memorial.
After the service, the crowd placed poppies below small white crosses bearing the names of battles where New Zealanders lost their lives, including both world wars, the Boer War and battles in Malaya, Vietnam and Korea.
Mr Rees said Anzac Day was not just about those who had been lost, but about the families they left behind.
Generations later, Kiwis were still heading to overseas battles like their forefathers, Mr Rees said.
"Our challenge today is to keep living up to their high standards."
Picton local Peter Yarrell this morning attended his first Anzac Day parade in 25 years. Mr Yarrell, who did a year of compulsory national service when he was 20, said there appeared to be a renewed understanding by the public of the cost of freedom in the world.
"People have started to realise after 93 years that it cost people a lot of lives."
"I think I'll be back next year."
Greg Ashby took his seven-year-old twins, Hannah and Jackson, to their first ever Anzac dawn parade today. Jackson said he came down because of the soldiers, with his father saying that the children had been learning about the meaning of Anzac Day.
Martin Birch, who served in the New Zealand Navy for 24 years and in Cambodia in 1993, attended an Anzac Day service each year.
"I just like to remember the servicemen," he said.
Ron Musgrove said he found Mr Rees' speech about the Picton soldier very moving. He said the Anzac Day crowd was growing bigger every year, which was good to see.
Marlborough mayor Alistair Sowman agreed, saying it was heartening to see so many young people in the crowd.
Meanwhile, in Seddon, the large crowd was well appreciated said Brian Schwass, a member of the Awatere Returned Servicemen Association who helped lead the service.
"It gives us great heart to see so many people turning out, especially the young ones," he said.
Royal New Zealand Navy Lieutenant Commander Mike Stephens addressed the crowd about the importance of remembering those who went before them and of life in the New Zealand armed forces today.
Marlborough RSA vice president Peter Callahan said he had never seen so many people at the Seddon dawn parade.
"I was absolutely amazed to see all the people at the foot of the hill when we got there. People are starting to take more of an interest in what their grandfathers and fathers have done," he said.
As the World War 1 bugle from the Anzacs' Gallipoli campaign sounded and the sun pushed its way through the cloud cover, tears were dabbed away and the crowd headed back down the hill.
Maike van der Heide and Jo Gilbert - Marlborough
Friday, 25 April 2008
Generations of Marlburians turned out in their droves to the region's two Anzac Day dawn parades to honour those who were lost and who returned from battles overseas.
Both the Seddon and Picton services attracted larger crowds than last year.
In Picton, hundreds of people, including many children, gathered in silence at the seafront war memorial for the traditional service.
The parade, led by the Blenheim and Districts Highland Pipe Band, included former and current servicemen, members of the Picton police and volunteer fire brigade and local scouts and sea scouts.
Commander of the New Zealand Defence College, Captain Gwyn Rees, touched many in the crowd by speaking of a Picton soldier, James Alfred Godfrey, who is buried in Belgium but whose name is inscribed on Picton's war memorial.
After the service, the crowd placed poppies below small white crosses bearing the names of battles where New Zealanders lost their lives, including both world wars, the Boer War and battles in Malaya, Vietnam and Korea.
Mr Rees said Anzac Day was not just about those who had been lost, but about the families they left behind.
Generations later, Kiwis were still heading to overseas battles like their forefathers, Mr Rees said.
"Our challenge today is to keep living up to their high standards."
Picton local Peter Yarrell this morning attended his first Anzac Day parade in 25 years. Mr Yarrell, who did a year of compulsory national service when he was 20, said there appeared to be a renewed understanding by the public of the cost of freedom in the world.
"People have started to realise after 93 years that it cost people a lot of lives."
"I think I'll be back next year."
Greg Ashby took his seven-year-old twins, Hannah and Jackson, to their first ever Anzac dawn parade today. Jackson said he came down because of the soldiers, with his father saying that the children had been learning about the meaning of Anzac Day.
Martin Birch, who served in the New Zealand Navy for 24 years and in Cambodia in 1993, attended an Anzac Day service each year.
"I just like to remember the servicemen," he said.
Ron Musgrove said he found Mr Rees' speech about the Picton soldier very moving. He said the Anzac Day crowd was growing bigger every year, which was good to see.
Marlborough mayor Alistair Sowman agreed, saying it was heartening to see so many young people in the crowd.
Meanwhile, in Seddon, the large crowd was well appreciated said Brian Schwass, a member of the Awatere Returned Servicemen Association who helped lead the service.
"It gives us great heart to see so many people turning out, especially the young ones," he said.
Royal New Zealand Navy Lieutenant Commander Mike Stephens addressed the crowd about the importance of remembering those who went before them and of life in the New Zealand armed forces today.
Marlborough RSA vice president Peter Callahan said he had never seen so many people at the Seddon dawn parade.
"I was absolutely amazed to see all the people at the foot of the hill when we got there. People are starting to take more of an interest in what their grandfathers and fathers have done," he said.
As the World War 1 bugle from the Anzacs' Gallipoli campaign sounded and the sun pushed its way through the cloud cover, tears were dabbed away and the crowd headed back down the hill.
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