One hundred and four years ago, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the First World War finally came to an end with the signing of an Armistice between the Allied Powers and Germany.
To mark Armistice Day, Rotorua Lakes Council, the local Returned Services Association and Te Arawa Māori Returned Services League are hosting a commemoration service at the Cenotaph in Government Gardens.
Last year Armistice commemorations were cancelled due to COVID-19 so this is a great opportunity to come together to remember our fallen soldiers on Friday 11 November 2022.
All are welcome to attend and honour all those that fought for us. Please gather at the Cenotaph at 10.30am with proceedings beginning at 10.40am.
This will be the first time Mayor Tania Tapsell will give the Armistice Address.
“It is an honour to make this address for such a significant occasion, in memory of those who fought in war to ensure a better future for us”, says Mayor Tapsell.
“I’m glad we can once again come together to commemorate this day and encourage both residents and visitors to join us for the service on Friday.”
The programme will include:
- Rev Tom Poata welcome and blessing
- Mayor Tania Tapsell will give Armistice Address
- Glen Botting will play Last Post
- 11am one minute silence
- Te Tapae ki a Tumatauenga – Ode to the fallen, read by John Treanor, Te Arawa Māori Returned Services League, and Jason Ramsay, President of the Rotorua Returned Services Association
- Glen Botting will play Reveille
- Wreath laying and placing of poppies while a piper from the City of Rotorua Highland Pipe Band performs
Ka maumahara tonu tātau ki a rātau. We will remember them