ANZAC Day

Hi all,
Had a wonderful vacation around the East Cape, only to return to find my broadband connection gone (I cancelled it before I left and forgot). So I can't upload any of the grand photos I took for another few weeks or so. They'll be worth it, I promise.

On another note, today is ANZAC Day here in NZ. It's much like Memorial Day in the States, except it commemorates NZ and Aussie soldiers:

"Anzac Day in New Zealand is held on 25 April each year to commemorate New Zealanders killed in war and to honour returned servicemen and women. The day has similar importance in Australia, New Zealand's partner in the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps at Gallipoli. The ceremony itself has been continually adapted to the times, but has also steadily acquired extra layers of symbolism and meaning.
The Dawn Service
A typical commemoration begins with a march by returned service personnel before dawn to the local war memorial. Military personnel and returned service-men and -women form up about the memorial, joined by other members of the community, with pride of place going to the war veterans. A short service follows with a prayer, hymns (including Kipling's 'Recessional' or 'Lest We Forget'), and a dedication which concludes with the fourth verse of Laurence Binyon's 'For the Fallen':
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.At the going down of the sun and in the morningWe will remember them.
The Last Post is then played, followed by a minute's silence and Reveille. A brief address follows, after which the hymn 'Recessional' is sung. The service concludes with a closing prayer and the singing of the National Anthem. "
http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/war/anzacday

Everyone's off from work today and it's raining, which seems fitting.

Love you,
claire