Gathering at war memorial for Anzac Day

New Zealanders and Australians gathered recently at the Lerwick War Memorial for the 2009 Anzac Day service. After a short address and the singing of the national anthems, a wreath was laid, and the flags of the two nations were raised. The traditional one minute’s silence was observed, followed by all present reciting the iconic fourth verse of Lawrence Binyon’s For the Fallen.

Anzac day commemorates the landing of the Australian and New Zealand forces at Gallipoli on 25th April 1915, where so many men died. Each year, at dawn on that date, Anzac services are held in many places throughout the world and it is an important public holiday in Australia and New Zealand.

A spokesman said: “Anzac Day not only ties us together in what it has come to mean back home, but here in Lerwick, it links us with so many Shetlanders who gave their lives in the Australian and New Zealand Services and whose names are on this memorial in front of us. We honour their efforts to fight for a better world.”