Anzac Day!

Anzac Day is a very special day for all the men and women that fought for New Zealand. It used to be just for the people that fought in World War I but then changed to honor those people. Anzac Day will always occur on the 25th of April. It is celebrated on that day because that was the day that the soldiers landed on Gallipoli. This year is extra special because this is the 100th year. The war happened in 1915, but it was first celebrated in 1916.

We celebrate Anzac Day because as I said we are honoring and remembering the men and the women that died for our country. But used to be to remember those Australian and New Zealanders that died on the Gallipoli Beach.

So now every year on the 25th of April to celebrate we will usually have a dawn parade. In Auckland the dawn parade will take place at the Museum. Then followed by a march in silence to the war memorial, where the flags are at half-mast. Then the laying of the wreaths at the war memorial. Then we will read a very special poem. Followed by the playing of The Last Post on the bugle. After that we will a time of silence, then followed by the raising of the flags and the playing of Reveille on the bugle.

The Poem goes like this:

They shall not grow old

As we who are left grow old

Age shall not weary them

Nor the years condemn

At the going down of the sun

And in the morning

We shall remember them

But if some people can not do this then by supporting them most people will buy a red poppy at the shops. We wear a red poppy because the poppies (flower) were growing and blooming amongst the flanders field. I hope that you have had a wonderful Anzac Day!