SHANNON SOLDIERS’ MEMORIAL.

Shannon News, 29 April 1924, Page 3

SHANNON SOLDIERS’ MEMORIAL.

| UNVEILING CEREMONY, I Anzae Day was fittingly commemorated at Shannon'on Friday last in the presence of a large gathering of residents by the unveiling of the Soldiers’ Memorial which was erected by the residents of Shannon and district to oomlmemorate the memory of those from this district who gave their lives . in the Great Wiar. Owing to the unavoidable ahsence of Mr Clutha Mac- [ kenzie, on account of the railway, strike, His Worship the Mayor (Mir W. Murdoch) performed the ceremony. Prior to the service, a procession of returned soldiers, and school children hleaded by the Foxton Band and the firing party, marched from the school to the memorial. The band played for the singing of the hymns and at the conclusion "The Last Post” was sounded by Bugler Walls of Foxton. The ceremony opened with the singing of “O God, our help in ages past,” tins being followed by a prayer by Rev. Stewart, after which the hymn “God of our Fathers” was sung. Rev. Stewairt then delivered a short scripture address, taking his text from Psalm 46 and a portion, of chapter 58 of Isaiah. THE MAYOR’S ADDRESS. His Worship the Mayor (Mr W. Murdoch) in addressing the large assemblage said they had met together to carry out the most, solemn ceremony of unveiling the memorial to the fallen heroes from this district in the late war. As far as being heroes he would say little, as the sacrifice I they made would be a golden page in J history. We all know of their heroism, he said, and we are proud of them and wte must let the monument be a beacon light to us for our future dutv and if we fail in this respect we will be traitors to out heroes. Duty not only meant collective duty but indiVidual duty. If the individual did bis duty faithfully all would be well with the State and Empire. Great empires before had fallen through neglect of duty. He instanced the Roman. Empire. This Empire stretched from Great Britain to Palestine. The Romans having made all the sur rounding states subject to them, made exactions and levies and the nobility revelled in .riches. This led to licentiousness and idleness, and the poor were degraded into a. state of abject seTtviitude so that when the Goths attacked Roma tbere was none found to defend it and the Rioimian Empire passed away. There are with us fathers, mothers, wives, brothers and sisters who have lost those near and dear to them, we cannot take away from them their sorrow, but we can mourn with them and show them by our actions that we appreciate the sacrifices made, by honouring the memory of those who gave their lives that we might live in freedom, and the example ol these, heroes is the beacon lights which we heroes be guided by. They founded a la'auiti'oh' for this young nation. May this monument with its enshrined names bet ever a reminder to iufe of the glory, courage, self sacrifice and noble devotion of out heroic dead and inspire us with the highest ideals of duty and service. The, Mayor tlten declared the monument iin,veiled. A,large number of wreaths were then placed on the monument and after ‘‘God Save the King” had been sung by those present, the “Lament” , Was played by Piper McLeod, of Taonui, Feilding, following which two minutes silence was observed for' tire bereaved and suffering. The firing .party then fired three volleys, Bugler Walls sounding the “Last Post.” Ait the close of the ceremony the Mayor thanked the members of the Foxton Band and Piper McLeod for tljeir kindness in coming forward to assist with the ceremony. Sergeant Major Sell was in charge of the firing party.