ANZAC DAY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2267, 23 April 1921, Page 2

ANZAC DAY.

IMPRESSIVE SCHOOL CEREMONY.

A very impressive ceremony was held at the local State School yesterday afternoon in commemoration of Anzac Day, by the scholars and staff. The enlarged photos of expupils who made the supreme .sacrifice at the war were arranged on a bench below the stone tablet in the vestibule, and beneath, beautifully worked in flowers, were the letters forming the word “Anzac.” During the day the head teacher made titling reference to the landing on the Peninsula, and recalled incidents in connection with ibis immortal incident. During the morning the scholars, as a drill exercise, formed in living letters on the playground the words “Anzac Day, 25th April.” Each formation recited the letter represented, the whole having a very spectacular effect. At the conclusion the children performed a figure march from the letter formation, accompanied by the drum, to the ordinary class formation. At 2.30 p.m. the whole school assembled at the entrance facing the memorial tablet, when a brief address was delivered by the Chairman of Committee, Mr Homblow, whose keynote was “sacrifice.” At the conclusion all the scholars faced west and stood with bowed heads in memory of the brave dead, while Mr J. Colder played the “Last Post.” After the last notes had echoed through the building there was a brief and impressive silence,. The children then reformed, and as they filed past the tablet and photos placed floral tributes beside the memorials, and entered the spacious corridor, where they sang the “Empire Hymn” and tho National Anthem. The ceremony was one of the most impressive and natural we have yet witnessed, and calculated to make a lasting impression on the minds of the scholars, as each and all had a clear knowledge of what they were eom-

memorating. After the school was closed the children placed the floral tributes at the foot of the Soldiers’ Memorial, in the Triangle.

PUBLIC MEMORIAL SERVICE. The Mayor invites the public, and particularly returned soldiers and their relatives, to attend a public memorial service in the Masonic Hall at 11 a.m. on Anzac Day. The service will he conducted by local ministers.