The Last Post

Today in New Zealand it is 100 years since Gallipoli - April 25th 2015.

People across New Zealand are gathering for the Dawn Services. The soldiers who fought in that War have all departed but their bravery is remembered by young and old today. There were 1000's in attendance - so many people from the community! Anzac day is the day when we join with our allies and old enemies alike. We honour the bravery on both sides and we say "Never Again". Anzac Day gives us a sense of unity and nationhood. The strength of that spirit that paved the way for us to live in peace and enjoy the fruit of our land is remembered today. We must dedicate ourselves for the ideals for which they died.

Only the Police are thinking about the threat of a jihadist terrorist attack that has been in the papers this week. There is always an ambulance present in case one more brave soldier falls!

WWI was the war to end all wars. We know it didn't but Remembrance Days speak down the years and tell us never again ,"lest we forget".

We stand together and the national anthem is played. The crowd slowly warms to singing the national anthem and the sound rises but it's a meek effort. Perhaps it is because we are not used to gathering in Community and singing together but this poor effort would never happen in some countries! 

Mr Miki Apiti from the Royal NZ RSA tells the story of the Gallipoli campaign of April 2015 to January 2016 from the Maori perspective. All the Maori tribes except Waikato went to war it was noted. The motives for going were varied. Some wanted combat to show they were true warriors even without the more sophisticated weapons of their European allies and Turkish foes. Some Maori were seeking citizenship (in their own country!) - they wanted to belong. Many went to see the world but they went without knowing the reality and horror of war.

A battalion of 477 men landed at Anzac cove on July 3rd. They found themselves wading ashore under heavy fire. They did not want to be found lacking in courage and the chant we now hear at All Black matches of "Ka Mate, Ka Mate, Ka Mate" was heard echoing around the coast. In the campaign 50 were killed and many more wounded. Only 60 remained at the end when they were evacuated in December 2015. 

Reverend Ross Browne speaks and prays that war should end because it is a denial of God's love. I'm left with a question. Soldiers fought because they loved their families and their countries. I can see God's love in them. They went to battle not to ordinary jobs. There is a time to fight out of love. The minister reads the beautiful passage from Isaiah 2:3-4 that tells of that great day that is coming soon!

"Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 

He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore."

Out of great suffering comes great hope! The spirit of Anzac is passed on through the generations so we can carry it always until that Great Day.

We sing Psalm 23, The Lord Is My Shepherd. That old song of the warrior king who fought and won so many battles.

War is a reality of our World but it will not always be! The day is coming and it is soon here when the swords will be turned to ploughshares, when we will feast at a table laid out in the presence of our enemies. Our enemies who are invited as friends : ) Is this possible when we look around at the conflict in this world and the seismic differences in beliefs, it can leave you shaking your head. Yes it will be, Jesus will do it! Even his enemies Imagine it without knowing how it will happen.

The President of the RSA Graham Dolan speaks and thanks the crowd for coming. He remembers the places where all our soldiers have fallen around the world, where their very bones lay, the known and the unknown. A soldier issues a loud commandment to the regiment still standing. The flags hang without a breeze to fly them. There are still a few soldiers left from WWII but soon they will also be gone. 

The President lays a wreath at the cenotaph. Many of the schools in the area have gates of stone inscribed with the dates of the war. I remember the strong impression they gave me when I looked up at them when I was young.

He thanks us for coming! Mum's and Dad's are thanked for to getting our children to the occasion. He invites us all to breakfast at the RSA even though they could never cope with the numbers. He realises and quickly puts the prices up from a gold coin donation : )

He notes that despite the bad press our town gets, there is more good in the Community than is reported. He says the Press should be here to witness the 1000's who have turned out.

The Last Post is played and a Maori word is given. 

The Anzac declaration is read.
"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
We will remember them"

Then a minutes silence. The dawn chorus of the birds singing can be heard and then the loud engines of another big bird as it departs from the nearby Auckland airport. 

A last prayer is spoken. Amen.