Wairarapa Times-Age THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 1941. ANZAC DAY OBSERVANCE.
CERTAIN amount of controversy has arisen and seems likely to develop over a proposal made by the president, of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, the lion AV. Perry, on behalf of the Dominion executive of that organisation, that the observance of Anzac Day this year should be varied in form to make the occasion “one of inspiration for victory.” It is in fact rather difficult to see how there could be any belter inspiration for-victory than in the commemoration of Anzac Day in the simple but effective, manner that has already become traditional. An important part of the proposal mentioned was that the main parade this year should be made
one in which will march, as units, our men who have joined the National Military Reserve, the Home Guard and other organisations, headed if you then like, by veterans of past wars and of the present war, who are unable for various reasons to belong to any of these bodies, so that the people of New Zealand will see marching on this national day of commemoration the citizen soldier of democracy on active service.
If only on the ground Unit there is a genuine difference of opinion in the Returned Soldiers’ Association as to the form ol observance of .Anzac Day and that some of its branches feel that there should be no departure from the observance for which the day was specially set apart, it seems regrettable that the proposals made by Air Perry on behalf of the Dominion executive of the R.S.A. have been put forward at the present time. It certainly is desirable that proposals of this far-reaching nature should be dealt with by the R.S.A. as a whole and not by its Dominion executive.
Many returned soldiers and other citizens may be expected to feel that any change in the established and approved annual national commemoration of Anzac Day, if it is to be made at all. should be made only after full deliberation and with the support of Hinted opinion. There is no obvious reason why Anzac Day should not be dedicated to those who are upholding liberty and justice in fighting valiantly for their country and the Empire today, as well as to those by whom the foundations of a great tradition were laid so bravely and well a quarter of a century ago.
Whatever the ultimate decision on this question may be, it is not in doubt that the commemoration of Anzac Day, with its tradition of valour, service and sacrifice, appeals to, enriches and inspires all that is host in the life and spirit of New Zealand and its sister Dominion, Australia, with whom that tradition is shared. The ideajs enshrined in our national day of commemoration are being upheld nobly by our soldiers now acquitting themselves valiantly in battles fought at tremendous odds in Greece, as they have been by New Zealanders and their comrades and allies in all arms of the fighting services and in every field of conflict in which they have been engaged in this war.
There is no need to si rain after a more elaborate or more effective observance of Anzac Day. The unbroken continuity of a great tradition is best attested in the fact that the members of our fighting forces today, like their fathers who served in the Great. "War, are numbered with the bravest of the brave. The meaning of our national day of commemoration is being enlarged and its inspiration deepened and strengthened irrespective of anything that may be done to vary or modify the form in v'hic.h it is observed. We shall best honour Anzac Day by determining that the lesson it holds shall point the way to duty even in the quiet ways of civil life. The standards of courage, devotion and self-sacrifice that have been and are being set by a host of gallant souls should impel each of us to do what wo may, actively if possible and at least ungrudgingly, to further the war effort of our Empire and its allies in the just cause upon which their existence is staked.
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Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 April 1941, Page 4
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694Wairarapa Times-Age THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 1941. ANZAC DAY OBSERVANCE. Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 April 1941, Page 4
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