Veterans, Defence Personnel To Parade Through Wgtn

MEDIA RELEASE

11 August 2005

Veterans And Defence Force Personnel Parade Through Central Wellington On Monday 15 August

Over 160 veterans and 100 New Zealand Defence Force personnel will parade through central Wellington on Monday 15 August to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of World War Two in the Pacific. The parade will begin in Civic Square at 12pm and make its way through Lambton Quay to the Wellington Cathedral and then on to Parliament Grounds.

The majority of veterans will be transported along the parade route in open sided New Zealand Army trucks and some will travel in World War Two era military vehicles. The veterans, 80 of whom would have just returned from a Veterans Affairs New Zealand hosted commemorative trip to the Pacific, will follow a 100 strong tri-service (Navy, Army and Air Force) New Zealand Defence Force Guard of Honour. Leading the parade will be the Central Band of the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

A commemorative Service, open to the public, will be held in the Wellington Cathedral in the presence of Her Excellency The Honourable Dame Silvia Cartwright, Governor-General of New Zealand and The Right Honourable Helen Clark, Prime Minister of New Zealand. The Service is scheduled to begin at 12.40pm with doors to the Cathedral opening at 12pm.

At the conclusion of the Service, the parade will march into Parliament Grounds where the Prime Minister will inspect the Guard of Honour, and the veterans will conduct a March Past. Aircraft from the Royal New Zealand Air Force will conduct a flypast at the conclusion of the event.

Veterans of the World War Two campaign in the Pacific who would like to take part in the parade should contact Veterans Affairs on 0800 483 8372.

The event will be televised live and commercial free by TVNZ from 12.30 - 2pm on TV One.

ENDS

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