A Special Poppy Day for Auckland RSA

The 2016 Poppy Day Appeal has special significance for the Auckland RSA as it marks 100 years of supporting those who have served the nation.

The Auckland RSA, in fact, was the first RSA in the country to formally incorporate in 1916, founded by soldiers returning from Gallipoli to provide care for their comrades and to keep alive the memory of those who would never return.

“Service and sacrifice has been at the heart of the RSA for 100 years,” says Graham Gibson, Auckland RSA President.

“A centenary is a significant milestone and we’ll be certainly celebrating it later this year,” says Graham Gibson, “but Poppy Day is an important reminder of the ongoing need to support our veterans, former and current service men and women, and their families.”

In Auckland today, for example, World War Two veterans, but also veterans of Korea, Malaya/Borneo and Vietnam, are facing the added challenges of age. Perhaps less seen but no less significant, the young veterans of Timor, Afghanistan and other conflicts are also needing support as they face their own battles. Auckland RSA, for example, just recently assisted a homeless young veteran off the streets. Then there are the families because service impacts their lives too, and the Auckland RSA is proud to support the children of the New Zealand fallen in Afghanistan.

“The Auckland RSA is revitalising the way we reach out to our veterans and service men and women of all ages,” says Graham Gibson.

The Poppy Day Appeal enables the Auckland RSA to support all ages and needs. It hopes that the public will once again give generously in this its centenary year. The Auckland RSA could not deliver its duty of care and support without the generous donations of individuals and the support of Auckland companies.

The Auckland RSA is once again delighted to have the support of its Poppy Partner SKYCITY. The Sky Tower will have the iconic poppy symbol projected onto its south-east side from Poppy Day on 15 April to Anzac Day on 25 April. The Poppy will be visible to attendees at the Anzac Day dawn service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

On Poppy Day itself, Friday 15 April, SKYCITY will have a special all-day collection on its forecourt with a military vehicle display and a military band at lunchtime 12-1pm.

On Poppy Day, Aucklanders should also look up into the skies as the NZ Warbirds Association pays a special salute to the RSA with a fly-pass over the Auckland CBD and suburbs between 12-1pm.

The Auckland RSA thanks the public for their ongoing support over 100 years and looks forward to a special Poppy Day.

HOW AUCKLANDERS CAN SUPPORT THE POPPY APPEAL:

Poppy Day Appeal Street Collection is on Friday, 15 April 2016 (Poppy Appeal is from 15 April to Anzac Day 25 April 2016)

Txt POPPY to 2256 for a $3 donation to the Auckland RSA Poppy Appeal

Donate online http://www.aucklandrsa.org (from 15 April) or make a donation by direct credit to the Auckland RSA Welfare Trust Account 02 0108 0013655 00

WHAT’S ON FOR THE POPPY APPEAL:

Sky Tower Poppy Projection 15 April to Anzac Day 25 April.

Auckland Artillery Band performance at SKYCITY plaza, 12-1pm on Friday 15 April

Warbirds Fly-Past 12-1pm on Poppy Day, 15 April

Fields of Remembrance, The Auckland Doman till 28 April

AUCKLAND RSA CURRENT PROJECTS:

The Auckland RSA is a principal supporter of the New Zealand Defence Force Invictus Team comprising of wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women rehabilitating themselves through sport, and competing at the Invictus Games in Orlando, Florida next month.

The Auckland RSA also continues to honour the memory of the fallen as a major partner in the Fields of Remembrance (named white crosses of New Zealand’s dead in World War One), with the field currently installed in the Auckland Domain acknowledging those Aucklanders that died at Gallipoli and at the Battle of the Somme (1916).

ENDS

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