New Zealand Defence Force
Te Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa

Media Release

6 November 2008

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY SERVICE HONOURS MILITARY PERSONNEL

New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel will play an important part at the Remembrance Sunday service at the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul, Wellington from 10.00 am on 9 November.

Remembrance Sunday honours all men and women who sacrificed their lives during military service for New Zealand as well as those NZDF personnel currently deployed on operational service overseas.

The service will involve a colourful flag parade including the Regimental Colours and Banners of the NZ Army, the Navy’s Ceremonial White Ensign, the Queen’s Colour and Squadron Standards of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). Musical accompaniment will be provided by the Central Band of the RNZAF and the Pipes and Drums of the 5th Wellington West Coast Taranaki Battalion Group

The service will be attended by Lieutenant Colonel Cate Tarsau who will represent the Governor General of New Zealand, the Honourable Anand Satyanand; the Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae, NZDF personnel and Wellington Cathedral parishioners.

The service will be conducted by The Very Reverend Frank Nelson, Dean of Wellington, the sermon will be delivered by Bishop Sir Paul Reeves with participation from Chaplain John Neal, Principal Defence Chaplain; Navy Chaplain Wayne Toleafoa and Air Force Chaplain Bill Dewar.

The President of the Wellington RSA Trevor Comish will read the Ode and Warrant Officer Robert Gillies will play the Last Post.

Services to mark Remembrance Sunday will be held throughout the country. In Dunedin the Vice Chief of Defence Force, Rear Admiral Jack Steer will attend a Returned and Services March along George Street, a Remembrance 2008 church service at St Paul’s Cathedral and a Veterans’ service at the Montecillo Veterans Home and Hospital. In Auckland a service will be held at St Matthews in the City which will be attended by the Governor General of New Zealand, the Honourable Anand Satyanand.

ENDS

Background
In addition to observing Armistice Day, Remembrance Sunday has become a universal time of commemoration when all men and women who have died in the service of their country are commemorated in church services throughout New Zealand. Remembrance Sunday is observed on the second Sunday in November.

This year is the 90th anniversary of Armistice Day which commemorates the signing of the armistice that ended the First World War and commemorates the sacrifice of those who died serving New Zealand in this and all wars and armed conflict. A number of Armistice Day activities will be run by government agencies under the theme Homecoming Te Hokinga Mai, go to www.nzlive.com for more details.

© Scoop Media