Anzac Day dawned bright and fine but we didn't attend the Dawn Service. Instead we (Wayne, Christine, Sarah,Joe, Kipp, Monty and the new German student S & J have, Julika) went to the 9.30 AM memorial service at the Lower Hutt War memorial. Some pictures of the memorial are above (not taken by us).
The presence of Julika just shows the stupidity of war.
Until yesterday, I didn't know that the choice of the day we landed at Gallipoli (the 25 April), being used as the poppy symbol, was an accident.
The red poppy – or Flanders poppy – is an international symbol of remembrance for those killed on the battlefield. Its symbolism dates back to Napoleonic times, but its modern association is mainly due to the poem “In Flanders Fields”, written by Canadian medical officer Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae during WWI.
The first New Zealand Poppy Day was held in 1922. The ship carrying the poppies from France arrived in New Zealand too late for Armistice Day in November, when Poppy Day is celebrated by the rest of the world. So, New Zealand held Poppy Day on the Friday before Anzac Day instead, and it has been celebrated on that day ever since. Generally Poppy Day in the rest of the world (including Australia) is in association with Remembrance (Armistice) Day but Australia has or is now moving to an assocition wih Anzac Day.
Wellington Hospital - went to visit a friend last week at the new hospital. The old facade has been retained, thank heaven, and used as a focal point. Christine having worked there many years ago took some pictures which she will send on to her nursing friend Maureen who lives in Greece.
