KEY POINTS:
Tomorrow morning Des Harrison will get up at 3.30am as he has done every Anzac Day for the past 15 years.
While most of us are still bleary-eyed at the 6am start, Mr Harrison will have been hoisting flags and roping off areas for dignitaries and veterans, making
sure every component of the country's largest dawn service goes without a hiccup.
The Vietnam War veteran has been running the parade and service at the Cenotaph at the Auckland Memorial Museum since 1992. By the time April 25 comes around, he has been planning things for more than two months.
"Actually, it's not that difficult because most people are happy to participate," said Mr Harrison, vice-president of the Ex-Vietnam Servicemen's Association
"They see it as a privilege and are happy to do whatever they are asked to do."
Mr Harrison said most of the association's time was spent co-ordinating the various groups such as the Salvation Army band, escorts for dignitaries, cadet marching groups, ambulance and council staff.
On the day, he arrives alone to set things in order.
"I don't get my mates out of bed for that, I usually do that by myself," he said.
It's a lot of work but Mr Harrison said the increasing numbers at the ceremony was "heartwarming" and made the preparations worthwhile.
"It's a day that's important in New Zealand's history and a tradition to keep alive - if you come along and see the young people there it really takes your breath away."
Now a 59-year-old builder, Mr Harrison was just 18 when he left his carpentry apprenticeship in Point Chevalier to join the Army in 1966.
A year later, he was manning howitzers in Nui Dat, Vietnam, as a gunner for the 161 Battery.
He saw action during the Tet Offensive in early 1968 before coming home in June that year.
He is loathe to talk about his own Anzac Day experiences on his return from Vietnam, saying he did not attend one for at least five years because of the anti-war sentiment held by some people.
"We weren't popular at the time and we felt that was a bit unfair. Things didn't get better for at least another 10 years.
"It wasn't really until Oliver Stone's movie Platoon came out [in 1986] when things actually started getting better for us."
Mr Harrison said Anzac Day should be considered as the country's national day.
"People are too divided on Waitangi Day but, on Anzac Day, all New Zealanders come together in support of what is happening.
"It really should be New Zealand's day; it is the one day of the year when everybody is proud of our country."
With fine weather predicted for the Auckland area tomorrow, Mr Harrison is expecting another good turnout.
"Last year, it was absolutely hosing down but 8000 people still came along."
