Anzac Day is arguably one of the most important stat holidays on New Zealand’s calendar.
This is one day every year that’s set aside for us to commemorate the many men, women and children who have sacrificed for our country and allowed us the freedoms we enjoy today.
This is a day to remember and a day to pay respects not only those that lost their lives for the cause, but also the many who remained behind to work on the home-front; the many women who took over the traditional ‘male jobs’; the many parents who lost their children; the many children who lost their fathers; and the many men who returned from war having to find a way to return to normalcy after having lived through the darkest of times that we can’t even begin to imagine.
Every Anzac Day is important. Although it means different things to different people, it’s a day when no matter what your race, your background, or your personal beliefs; we can come together as a nation and offer our thanks and our respect.
However, this year also holds a little extra significance marking 100 years since New Zealander’s first landed at Gallipoli, our official entry into World War I.
It’s been so heart-warming to see the many different ways the Anzacs have been commemorated over the past couple of months. From school projects, to media commemorations, Fonterra’s poppies on trucks campaign, and the recently opened exhibition at Te Papa: ‘The scale of our war’ (which looks incredible by the way).
One of the most common ways to pay your respects on Anzac Day is to attend an Anzac service such as a Dawn Parade.
It was quite surreal this year. Over the past 3-4 years this has meant standing out in the pouring rain, freezing. To be fair the service only lasts about half an hour, and considering the misery the Anzacs endured, it’s not really a huge ask. But this year it was a relatively warm morning, and although there was a few drops of rain, it was nothing compared to previous dawn services.
From quite early on the sky began playing its part with an appropriate red hue for almost the entire service; which developed into a golden sunrise to lead us all into the remainder of the day.
Here is a selection of images from our Anzac Day.
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.Lest We Forget.
