(L-R)  Ambassador McCormick, Hon. Phil Goff, Joan Ellis, SSgt Leon Banta.

Memorial Day 2008

On Monday 26 May the New Zealand American Association (NZAA) held a service of Commemoration for Memorial Day in Old St Paul's historic church in Thorndon.

Memorial day is held in honor of all Americans who have died in war. Hon. Phil Goff represented the New Zealand government and laid a wreath. Other wreaths were laid by representatives from the New Zealand Defence Force, The Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association, The Mayors of Wellington, Hutt City, Upper Hutt, Porirua, and the Kapiti Coast. The New Zealand American Association and the US Ambassador also laid a wreath.

American Ambassador William P.McCormick in his address referred to the thousands of US Marines who passed through New Zealand on their way to battles in the Pacific and reflected that the New Zealand people gave them their last sense of home.