KEY POINTS:
War memorials remind us of the need to redouble efforts to work for peace and strengthen our democracy, the Governor-General, Anand Satyanand, said yesterday.
In the Hall of Memories at the National War Memorial in Wellington on the 93rd anniversary of Anzac Day, he spoke of the importance of freedom.
"The young men and women whose sacrifice we honour today died to preserve freedom of speech and the right to choose our representatives in free and fair elections," he said.
This year's ceremony began with the laying of a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior by Commander Thierry Arnoult, commander of a visiting French frigate.
Robin Klitscher, national president of the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association made special note that "we have with us today the French".
Fifty-eight wreaths were laidduring the formal ceremony by diplomats, mayors, politicians, representatives of the military, veterans and others.
The Government was represented by Cabinet minister Trevor Mallard and the National Party by leader John Key. Prime Minister Helen Clark attended an Anzac Day ceremony in her Mt Albert electorate.
This year marks 90 years since World War I ended in November 1918.
Mr Satyanand said that for a country such as New Zealand, with little more than one million people at the time, "the loss of so many of our nation's youngest and finest on battlefields so far from home cast a long shadow - no suburb or district was left untouched by the tragic loss of life".
Unfortunately it was to be repeated in World War II and in several other conflicts since.
"New Zealand and New Zealanders have continued to make a principled contribution to world affairs, and have been prepared to back that resolve."
It was noted during the service that 900 members of the New Zealand Defence Forces were serving in operational roles overseas.
After the sounding of the Last Post it fell to Mr Klitscher to say the Ode: "Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them."
- NZPA
