Reverend challenges offenders to consider returned soldiers' sacrifices

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 634, 30 April 1996, Page 1

Reverend challenges offenders to consider returned soldiers' sacrifices

Time is long overdue for those of us who have benefited from their service and sacrifice to work to implement a progressive, loving, caring society. So said Rev Bob Peck in his address at the Anzac Day service in Ohakune last Thursday. He spoke about the situation in New Zealand at present, saying he wondered how returned service personnel feel about the number of antisocial activities of some people. "One might ask a returned prisoner of war how he feels about the vicious, premeditated murder of an unarmed policeman." Turn to Page 2

Reverend challenges offenders

FROMPAGE1 "Or, ask a veteran of his views regarding the rape of a defenceless 90-year-old woman, the abduction of a 14-year-old boy, the continuous evidence of wife bashing and abuse of children." "I wonder how our returned service personnel feel about the broken .windows in our shops, the graffiti spray ed from one end of our communities to the other, the wanton violence and vandalism?" "Is this what they fought for? Did your fathers and grandfathers die for this? I think not!" He said with their sacrifice in mind it was time that people placed service before self, people before possessions and giving before taking. "It is our duty to do so," said Mr Peck.