Thousands gather for Anzac Dawn Service

Thousands gather at Auckland War Memorial Museum for Anzac Dawn Service

Over 10,000 people gathered to commemorate our fallen soldiers and the sacrifices of war at Auckland War Memorial Museum this morning.

Many came armed with jackets and umbrellas but despite bursts of torrential downpours in the hour before, the rain held off during the Dawn Service.

The Civic Service will begin at 11am.

Auckland War Memorial Museum’s war memorial liaison officer Vincent Lipanovich says it was pleasing to see the mix of young and old at the Dawn Service.

“Our servicemen fought in all weathers and it so it is heartening to see Aucklanders turning out, regardless of the rain, to commemorate the courage and sacrifice of those who have served our country. We believe we had around 10,000 in attendance at this morning’s service so many people were undeterred by the threat of rain.”

Following the Dawn Service, Auckland Mayor Len Brown and Auckland War Memorial Museum Director Roy Clare announced Auckland’s WW100 commemoration plans.

Auckland War Memorial Museum Director Roy Clare says the museum’s WWI centenary programme is centred on the overarching theme ‘He toa taumata rau’ or ‘Courage has many resting places’ and spans online projects, annual programmes, commemorative events and the upgrade of the online Cenotaph Database.

“Each year of the centenary also has its own theme including ‘Duty & Adventure’ in 2014 and ‘Death of Innocence’ in 2015 coinciding with the commemorations for Gallipoli 100.”

“The museum’s programme offers Aucklanders and New Zealanders many opportunities to connect with their own history and, through those connections, to better understand the courage and the sacrifices of World War One,” says Mr Clare.

The museum’s Cenotaph Database already allows New Zealanders to search for the basic service details of First World War servicemen – and servicemen from other conflicts that New Zealand has played a role in.

“Now, as part of a national partnership programme, the museum is investing $400,000 on top of $300,000 from the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, to allow for development of the database to allow for the introduction of more images, personal papers and fuller military records.”

ends

© Scoop Media