Today is ANZAC Day, a solemn day to remember the fallen "Anzacs" (Australia and New Zealand Army Corps) who served in WW1, and to show honour to returned service men and women.
Anzac Day occurs every year on April 25 and commemorates the landing of the Anzacs on Gallipoli in 1915 and the role that New Zealand and Australia played in times of war.
Nearly every city in New Zealand is hosting memorial services today, similar to that of a military funeral. Many of them are "dawn services", taking place around 6:00AM. Poppies can be seen everywhere around the city pinned to lapels, blooming in gardens and posted on signs outside stores and public places. While I was unable to attend the dawn service in Whangarei this year, I did attend last year when in Kaitaia and it was a very powerful and moving experience. I've attached a few photos of our local "field of remembrance" site here in Whangarei, as well as a photo of today's dawn service outside the Auckland museum (courtesy New Zealand Herald).
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