Service unites young and old
Young and old united at memorials across the South Waikato to recognise the commitment and dedication of New Zealanders killed during past wars.
South Waikato District Mayor Neil Sinclair said it was ‘‘gratifying’’ to see so many people attend Anzac services held in Tokoroa, Putaruru and Tirau.
‘‘Don’t you think we owe it to those that went before, that sacrificed, to give us peace; that we need to pick up that baton of peace.
‘‘Then we’ll have a town that has no family violence, we’ll have a town that is tolerant of one another and we’ll have a country that can stand up and say ‘I believe in peace’.
‘‘Wouldn’t that be the heritage our soldiers want for? Let us pray that we can let that peace begin with us.’’
Tokoroa High School student Shaun Moon said in a speech that the ability to be worried about whether to have chicken or beef noodles for lunch was a privilege he didn’t take for granted.
‘‘We spend so much time looking for the future we forget to turn around. But amongst all this striving for validation and success we sometimes forget to broaden our vision.
‘‘Today is a day of broadening that vision.’’
Tributes continued in Tirau with the official blessing of the War Memorial Plaque blessed by Kaumatua Hohepa Winika.