A tribute from the cadets...

ANZAC Day is an important day for the Corps. It is a day where we all come together to March in a remembrance parade for those who gave their lives, time, and services to the combined effort in the World Wars. ANZAC Parades now encompass most wars, and we remember all absent friends. What those brave souls did for their Country will never be forgotten.

3 Cadets wrote about their experiences on the ANZAC Parade, and discussed how important the day was to them and how proud they were to wear the uniform. Their stories are below.

On ANZAC Day, all of the cadets and officers gathered at Stockade Hill, along with the veterans and other youth groups. Everybody gathered to commemorate all of the soldiers that fought for New Zealand and Australia in World Wars One and Two.

All of the Cadets met up and started to prepare for the ANZAC service. We all waited in anticipation, wondering what the service would be like. The organisers called all the groups to get ready and within a few minutes we were all marching through the crowd, heading to the top of the hill. We reached the top and then everybody waited in silence for it to begin.

When the service began it was very interesting listening to the stories about their battle. I had never seen a full ANZAC service, so going to this parade and being a part of it was a great honour.

All of the speeches and songs were interesting to listen to. After they had finished we all marched down to the RSA. By the time we had gotten to the RSA we were all ready to sit down and have a break because we had been standing in the head for a while.

At the RSA we helped serve lunch to all the important people. It was really interesting talking to the people that had been affected.

The 25th of April 2007 was ANZAC Day. This day is of significant importance in New Zealand and Australia, and also to me, as a cadet of the Air Training Corps. This is a well known event around the country, where people turn up in their thousands, attending both dawn and civil services, commemorating those who lost their lives whilst landing at Gallipoli in 1915.

The civil service I attended was at Stockade Hill, in the historical village of Howick, in Auckland. There was also a dawn service held at 6am at the same location, as well as many more throughout the country. I arrived late in the morning at Mellons Bay Road, where the parade started from at 11am. We formed up in flights along the road behind the veterans, NZ Army, Fire Service and Police. We then marched around the right side of the hill, to the entrance on the left. Once we had reached the top, where the cenotaph is, we formed on the grass. We were surrounded by thousands of people and many other youth organisations such as Scouts and Girl Guides. Then we were addressed by the MC, and a girl from Pakuranga College who gave a thought provoking speech informing us exactly what it meant to be there. We were there for about an hour and a half, where many events took place; such as the laying of the wreaths, the national anthem and prayers.

It was a heart-warming occasion for me personally, and it made me realise just what I represent when I wear this uniform and just what commemoration means. It is often stated that war is a waste if young human potential, but these brave men and woman gave their lives for the country.

After the parade we marched off the hill in our existing formations, onto Picton Street and towards the RSA where lunch took place for all organisations who participated. I served meals at the RSA to the veterans, and it made me feel proud to wear this uniform; a wonderful experience.

To me ANZAC Day is a very important day, and should be to everyone. ANZAC Day is a day to remember because men gave their lives for their countries. On April 25th, ANZAC Day, I had to march in front of a lot of people. It was nerve racking at first, but then I thought to myself why I’m there and how important it is.

I grew up in South Africa, where there are not a lot of opportunities to do things like this. The people there don’t care and it amazes me everyday how people can go through ANZAC day thinking that it is just another holiday. It’s more than that.

So to me, ANZAC Day was truly a great experience, because never in my life did I think that I would ever march in public and pay my respect to the men that died in the war. After the parade I had the privilege to serve food to the elderly people of the RSA and that to me was an honour because I was in the presence of those brave people.

Overall, I had a great time at the parade and enjoyed the privilege I had of being in the parade. One of the officers said to me”They gave their lives. All we are giving is our time.” That is so true. I am proud to wear my uniform in public and proud to pay my respects.