HAMILTON service personnel and community members came together as one yesterday morning for the Anzac Day march, to remember the brave service men and women who lost their lives in war.
The crowd of hundreds of people assembled at the Post Office at 10am, before marching down Gray Street and Brown Street to the Vietnam Veteran Memorial, then onto the Melville Oval Cenotaph.
Many past and present service members, school students, emergency service workers, and community members marched proudly down the spectator lined streets as the sound of the Hamilton Brass band filled the air.
Hamilton RSL president, Danny Bland opened the commemorative service by acknowledging those who had “paid the supreme sacrifice” while representing our country.
“All of us here on Anzac Day are aware of Australia’s history of being involved in conflict around the globe,” he said.
“Even today we have sailors, soldiers, air men and women all around the world in peace keeping roles and under UN duties.
“As we gather here today, we remember those that fought and fall, those who returned and fall, and those that remain.”
Members of the community then laid wreaths as a sign of respect for those who lost their lives for the freedoms Australians experience today.
The Hamilton and Alexandra College school captain, Finlay Cameron also addressed the crowd as the guest speaker and paid her respects to the Anzacs who “enriched our nations history”.
“In our 150th year, we recall that over 300 old collegians served in conflicts,” she said.
“Sadly, 30 of our own never returned, and like so many schools from across the district, we lost a generation of brave men and women who played sport on our fields, attended our classes, and who developed lifelong friendships.”
Anzac Day was originally held to honour members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who fought on the Gallipoli peninsula in World War I, but has since been used to commemorate all Australians and New Zealanders from all wars.
