Armistice Day events remember New Zealand's war sacrifices

There are several commemorations taking place tomorrow morning, the anniversary of the armistice that ended WWI taking effect 98 years ago.

Wreaths are being laid and two minutes of silence observed to remember the sacrifices of those who fought in the Great War 100 years ago as well as all other conflicts New Zealand forces have taken part in.

Here's a round-up of the events around the Coromandel which you are welcome to attend:

• Thames: a commemoration outside the Thames War Memorial Civic Centre at 11am and then a short wreath-laying ceremony will be held at the newly restored monument.

• Whangamata: a wreath-laying ceremony at the RSA Remembrance Wall at 11am

• Opoutere School: Two minutes of silence at 11am followed by the planting of a kowhai tree

• Coromandel Town, Memorial Reserve: An RSA service beginning at 10.30am by the flag pole/war memorial outside our Coromandel Service Centre on Kapanga Road

Landscaping concept being examined

Our Council's staff are investigating a landscape design for the Thames War Monument that will make the grounds around the newly restored monument a suitable space to hold commemorations such as for Armistice Day and Anzac Day and also make the grounds more accessible for disabled people.

The Thames Community Board will discuss the concept design at its meeting on Monday 14 November. Follow this link to see the order paper for the new Community Board's inaugural meeting.

To find out more about the Coromandel's heritage, including the story of the Thames War Memorial, see our Council's Summertimes magazine.

To remember the sacrifice of the WWI generation 100 years on from the Great War, we have created the WWI Memorial Forest - eight groves of native trees that pay tribute to the New Zealand soldiers who were killed in the war. Each of the sites commemorates a particular battle or the men from a specific part of the Coromandel who fell in battle.

You can commemorate a soldier of your choice by making a donation of $25 to the project which will pay for the care of a tree at one of the sites. You'll receive a memorial certificate with the soldier's name and rank and the location of the tree.

For more information on the WWI Memorial Forest, go to www.tcdc.govt.nz/ww1memorialforest

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