Editorial: Right to honour heroes

Tracy Stamatakos photographing a World War II veteran.

It is pleasing to know a project is under way to photograph the World War II veterans who are still with us.

As the years pass and the number of returned servicemen and women from World War II dwindle at Anzac Day services, nevertheless the crowds continue to stay strong.

Interest and appreciation for the sacrifices these veterans made for their country seems to grow each year.

It must bring some measure of comfort to those who are remembering their own war service and the loss of those who fought alongside them, to see that younger generations have not forgotten their sacrifice - and particularly that children turn out to pay tribute.

It is important that we collect the war experiences of these veterans while they are still with us so that future generations will have a better understanding of what they went through.

On Saturday members of the The New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography photographed Bay of Plenty World War II veterans as part of a nationwide portrait project to be gifted to the Returned and Services' Association next year.

The organisation's Waikato/ Bay of Plenty chairwoman, Tracy Stamatakos, knows the importance of the project both for the families of veterans as well as the wider public.

Her grandfather was a World War II veteran and she says she, regretfully, did not appreciate the importance of photographing him with his medals until she started this project.

"I really wish he could've been part of it," she says.

She said she was doing the project for other families and hoped people would bring their grandparents or parents along before it was too late.

World War II veteran Ron Wallbank, 91, an engine-room engineer in the Navy for six years from 1939, was one of the veterans photographed on Saturday.

Perhaps he put it best when he said it was important to acknowledge and remember the past. "I'm proud of my efforts," he said, "I think the memories should be kept alive."