Auckland War Memorial Museum - Armistice Day

MEDIA RELEASE 2 November 2005

Armistice Day

11 november 2005

Auckland War Memorial Museum is remembering one of the most significant days in our human history with a special commemoration, a significant symposium and a moving pictorial exhibition.

Commemorative Ceremony

10.25am, Friday 11 November

World War One Hall of Memories

The First World War was one of the most disastrous events in human history. New Zealand, with a population of 1.1 million in 1914, sent 100,000 men and women abroad - 16,700 died and over 40,000 were wounded, a higher per capita casualty rate than any other country involved.

The coming of peace on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918 brought blessed relief for all involved.

Armistice Day has become a universal time of commemoration.

For the New Zealand Military, this is a day of special reverence to reflect on the courage and sacrifice of all those who have died serving New Zealand in World War I and all other armed conflicts. It also propounds a sobering opportunity to remember our service people in other parts of the world, especially those currently serving on operational missions.

Auckland War Memorial Museum will be commemorating Armistice Day with a full commemorative programme. We ask visitors to be in place by 10.25am and ask that they maintain 2 minutes silence at 11am. This will be announced by the ringing of the Museum Bell.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,

Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,

They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall not grow old, as we that 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 will remember them.

Laurence Binyon (1869-1943)

ENDS

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