ANZAC DAY

There was a Dawn Service in Whangarei Town Centre but I elected to go to the 10.30 a.m. service here in Kamo - an easy stroll from home.

It was held in the Kamo War Memorial Hall and a lot of thought had, obviously, gone into its planning.  One gentleman had been to Belgium last year to visit the War Graves and it was very moving hearing about his experiences with slides of the Graves playing in the background.

We heard the story of the penning of "In Flanders Fields" which was read out.

In Flanders Fields by John McCrae - May 1915

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

                                        On the walk to the service - the street next to ours

                                       Kamo main street

                                        The old oaks next to the hall

                                       This lovely house is next to the hall

 On my walk back home taken from the same spot as the one on my way to the hall.