Craig Cooper has been moved by Anzac Day ceremony.
It wasn't the Last Post, that got me.
It was the drums. Actually, just one drum, the solid thwack ... thwack ... thwack emanating from the dark as the parade entered Laurie Hall Park on Saturday morning.
The call had gone out over the loudspeaker that the parade had left the Whangarei RSA about 6am.
It seemed within five minutes, they were there.
They had made quick time, accompanied by that drum punctuating their strides.
It struck me, that soldiers would have heard something similar at war. And, in the dark, on the 100th anniversary of the disaster that was Gallipoli, it sounded real, it hit home.
I guessed 5000 were gathered there - others estimated less, some more.
It was an extraordinary occasion - not necessarily for what was said, but more for what wasn't said - each of the thousands encircled around the memorial cenotaph all had their personal reasons for being there.
But yes, in general, we were there to remember them.
The words spoken, the music played, the wreaths laid, the flags displayed, and the thousands gathered - it was a fitting tribute. Our fallen soldiers, 100 years on ... I think they would have been proud, looking down on Laurie Hall Park, and other ceremonies throughout Northland, on Saturday morning. They have not been forgotten.
And never will be.
