City's day of 'sorrow and pride'

MARCHING: Veterans, servicemen, emergency services and cadets marched past the cenotaph at yesterday's dawn parade in Mount Maunganui.

"Anzac Day is a day of sorrow and pride. Pride in what we have achieved and sorrow at what it cost us."

Those were the words of Mount Maunganui RSA president Carol Cook at yesterday's dawn parade.

People streamed to the cenotaph and about 5000 could be seen stretching either side of the monument. Mount Drury was covered in families watching the ceremony and waiting for dawn to break.

The service began with the sound of bagpipes as veterans, current serving personnel, emergency services, cadets, scouts and brownie groups marched around the cenotaph to the sharp commands of Staff Sergeant Mike Halliday.

Mrs Cook opened her inaugural dawn parade then spoke about the importance of this year, the 100th since the beginning of World War I and the 99th since the Gallipoli landings.

"This year is an important year for New Zealand as we begin commemorating 100 years since the start of the First World War in August 1914, the start of the so-called war to end all wars. Some feel it changed New Zealand forever."

Mrs Cook said more New Zealanders died in World War I than all other conflicts since combined. She said Anzac Day was a day not only to remember those who had fallen in World War I, but those who had served in other conflicts since including those currently deployed overseas.

Prayers were led by Reverend Marie Gilpin before the Last Post was played.

The day just was beginning to break as the Reveille sounded, soon followed by the booming sound of two vintage trainer planes flown by Derek Williams and Ian Chapman flying over the parade from the sea.

Members of the public gathered to lay their poppies at the base of the cenotaph.

A big crowd then took to the RSA for a hot drink and to wait for the Mount Maunganui Civic Memorial Service at 9.30am.