SERVICE AND PARADE AT SHANNON

Chronicle (Levin), 26 April 1946, Page 8

SERVICE AND PARADE AT SHANNON

THE SPIRIT OF ANZAC v Bhannon's first peace-time Anzac Day was observed in a similar manner to that -of past years. A 'parade of returned servicemen, home service personnel, Shannon' Basketball Club, Junior Red -Cross and school .children assembled at the school- at 10 a.m. and marched off headed by the pipes and drums of the Levin Pipe Band, along Plimmer Terrace. The first halt was made at the South1 African war memorial, where a wreath was . laid. The parade then moved to the cenotaph, where wreaths were laid on behalf of.the R.S.A., Home Services Association, the citizens of Shannon, the Junior Red "Cross and the -school children. From the cenotaph, those in t-he parade and the public attended the memorial service, which was held in the Renown Theatre. There the proceedings opened with the singing of the National Anthem.

Must Work for Peace. In his remarks, the Mayor (Mr. R. E-. Downes) said that once again the public had been gathered together to pay their respects to those who had paid the supreme saerifice - in : World Wars I and H. He stated. j that he was very impressed by_ the. number on the parade, especially the young returned men who had gathered to pay tribute to their lost comrades. The Mayor then impressed upon those present the necessity of making the war just concluded the war to end all wars, and it was the job of every loyal citizen to make our statesmen understand that international troubles must be isettled around a eonference table, I and not on the field of battle. Mr. Downes went on to say that veterans of World "War I had perhaps been forgotten as time went on, but it was our duty to see that i all returned men were not forgotten. i He outlined the situation in Europe, where to-day many people, perhaps more than were actually kiiled in battle, would be dying- as a direct result of the war, and it was everybody's task to see that starVing civilisation was helped. Mr-. Downes expressed sorrow and sympathy with those who had lost loved ones and again stressed the point that war must not happen again. The Rev. Mr. Martin followed with a prayer for the fallen, after which the hymn "O God Our Help in Ages' Past" was sung. Mr. Martin then addressed the gathering on the spirit of Anzac. He also drew attention to the necessity of winning the peace,' to assist tfie starving multitudes of Europe, and to the sufferipg of the peoples of Europe, Russia and China at the hands of the common enemy. The singing of the hymn, "God of Our Fathers," brought Mr. Martin's address to a close. Mr. S. W. Barber, president of the R.S.A.; in his ' remarks, thanked all who had assisted with the- observing of the sacred day of Anzac, and hoped that those who had helped so generously in the time of war would continue to help in the future. The sounding of the Last Post by Mr. Lester, and the pronouncing of the Benediction brought the service to a close. „ •