currently 8:51pm Monday 5th January, 2009 (NYC, New York)
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anzac day
Friday 25 April, 2003 at 8:50PM (Nereus) :: permalink :: comments (2) The population of New Zealand has reached 4 million apparently! (thanks for the info Mich) ..wow, I try to imagine the entire population of NZ living in one city and then multiply it by three ..I can't imagine it, yet I'm living in it right now in New York. Bizarre.
On that day ANZACs basically stormed the beaches in Gallipoli and suffered huge casualties, but the valor that was displayed that day earned the ANZACs tremendous respect, particularly from Turkey, even though they were on opposite sides. The day (obviously) has similar importance in Australia, New Zealand's partner in the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (hence ANZAC). It's a national 'holiday' in NZ, where many people attend the Dawn Service (aka the Dawn Parade), basically a march by returned service personnel before dawn to the local war memorial where a service is held. Over the last few years in particular there have been more and more people attending the dawn service, which is really good to see - national pride / honor / identity / respect. The service itself can be pretty emotional, concluding with the last verse of Laurence Binyon's 'For the Fallen': They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old: and then 'The Last Post' trumpet or bugle call is played (similar to playing 'the Taps' in the US) which is pretty emotional, followed by one minute silence and Reveille, and finally the National Anthem. I'll have a look around and see if I can find a copy of the bugle call.. [a few minutes later] ..ok, found it. The Last Post is also sounded at 10pm each night to inform soldiers that they should be inside their quarters for the night, and also at military funerals to indicate that the soldier has completed his life's work and has entered into his rest. Get Flash to see this player.
Click the little triangle on the left end of the player to listen - I had a few issues with the inline player, so if you can't see or use the flash player above, you can download the file instead if you wish (1.2MB) - it's in .mp3 format (right click and Save Link As / Save Target As...). comments (2)
Nereus You mean I'm not the only Kiwi in NYC!!? I've been here since just before 911 and have met one Aussie and no NZ'ers at all! I wish I'd known there was an ANZAC service on.. how did you find out about it? Where do all the Kiwis hang out in NYC (or are we it?). leave a comment
 
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Today, April 25th, is ANZAC Day in NZ (actually it was yesterday in NZ, since I'm a day behind in NYC). Anzac Day commemorates New Zealanders killed in war and honors returned servicemen and women, originating from the commemorations of Gallipoli (Turkey) in 1915 during WW1.
kiwichick
April 25, 2005 9:49 AM [link]
I'm in NYC too, went to the ANZAC service that they had in the memorial gardens, at the top of Rockafeller Center yesterday. It was, suprisingly, really nice. I think the frog fountain thing in the memorial pool must have been an Australian idea, no Kiwi in their right mind would suggest something so hideous.
Also went to the morning tea put on at the Australian Consulate, and made some new friends. A Marine played The Last Post, people from nearly every force were there-- New Zealand, Australian, American and Turkish. Was good fun.