Te Awamutu Armistice Day Service 2023. Photo / Dean Taylor
Saturday was Armistice Day 2023, marked in Te Awamutu by a wreath laying service at Te Awamutu’s Cenotaph, Anzac Green at 11am - the 11th hour, on the 11th day of the 11th month.
MC Graham Smith conducted proceedings, with assistance from Parade Commander Alan Whitiora, Te Awamutu Community Cadets and fellow Te Awamutu RSA executive members.
The mihi was presented by Adam Te Huia and Padre Murray Olson conducted the opening prayer and the Benediction.
Te Awamutu Brass played the accompaniment for the New Zealand National Anthem and God Save the King, with The Musical Allsorts leading the singing.
Wreaths were laid on behalf of Te Awamutu RSA, Waipā District Council, Te Awamutu and Kihikihi Community Board and other veteran deployments.
Councillor and veteran Lou Brown presented the dedication followed by RSA executive committee member and veteran Daniel van der Hulst reciting the poem In Flanders Fields by poet and soldier John McCrae.
This was followed by bugler Stuart Lindsay playing The Last Post as the flag was lowered.
The Ode was read by Te Huia and RSA president Peter Watson.
“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.
As Linsay played Reveille the flag was raised and the service concluded with thanks from Te Awamutu RSA to everyone who had attended, laid wreaths and taken part in the memorial event.
Dean Taylor is a community journalist with more than 35 years of experience and is editor of the Te Awamutu Courier and Waikato Herald.
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