FLAGS DEDICATED

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 108, 24 May 1937, Page 10

FLAGS DEDICATED

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Auckland Ceremony

fBv Tplno....

. | AUCKLAND, Last Night. Modelled on the ceremony arranged in Engla-nd as part of the Coronation '• celebrations a review of ex-servicemeu and wbmen waa held in the Auckland Domain this afternoon by the GovernorGeneral, Viscount Galway. More ,than 3000 xeturned soldiers marched from Grafton bridge to the Domain and iorined three sides of a hollow square, while the port chaplain, Eev. H. K. Vickery, who saw service on Gallipoli, dedicated two new tlags of the Auckland Eeturned Soldiers' Association. A crowd of over 20,000 watched the simple but impressive ceremony. "This ceremony reminds ua of a. great event which took place some 20 years ago," said the Governor-General after handing the flags to the colourparty. "Then at the call of duty the men of New Zealand, both Maori and Pakeha, combined to fight for the cause of justice and righteousness and made for themselves a name that will be remembered so long as men read history! and talk of this wat." Before he came. to New Zealand, he said, he had taken the opportunity .of visiting the t5attlefields and cemeteries of Frahce in tho parts where the New Zealand troops had especially distinguished themselves. and it might be some consolation to those who loved the men who -had not come back to know that their graves were being beautifully kept and maintained. "This ceremony," he said, "sfiows that we do not forget what we owe to those brave men who in the time of the Empire 's need came f orward and aequitted themselves so nobly." After the flags had been dedicated and a blessing had been given the parade marched past the saluting base. where the Governor-General took thei salute and reviewed the long line of returned men.