Lest we forget. Although many of the official Council services had been cancelled after advice from the police, many small, community services popped up to remember those we have lost.
I was honoured to be invited to MC the ANZAC Day service at the Birkenhead RSA this morning, where around 500 returned service men and women, members of the armed forces, Scouts, Girl Guides and members of the community gathered to pay their respects.
I also took part in laying of the wreathes at Birkenhead, Glenfield and Northcote on behalf of the Kaipātiki Local Board, alongside Danielle Grant, Adrian Tyler and Anne-Elise Smithson.
Excerpt from my speech at the Birkenhead RSA:
“There is no doubt that the recent tragic event in Christchurch has had a real impact on life in New Zealand in many ways. That is no more apparent than today with the unfortunate cancellation of many ANZAC Day services across Auckland, including the three services that we normally hold in Kaipatiki at Birkenhead, Glenfield and Northcote.
So I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the Birkenhead RSA for holding today’s service, and accommodating it here in their clubrooms, so that we can take a moment to come together as a community to commemorate the New Zealanders killed in war and honour our returned service personnel.”
