Over 160 veterans and 100 New Zealand Defense Force personnel
paraded through central Wellington Monday to commemorate the 60th
anniversary of the end of World War II.
The parade began in Civic Square at noon and made its way
through Lambton Quay to the Wellington Cathedral and then on to
Parliament Grounds.
The majority of veterans were transported along the parade route
in open sided New Zealand Army trucks and some traveled in WWII era
military vehicles.
The veterans, 80 of whom just returned from a Veterans Affairs
New Zealand-hosted commemorative trip to the Pacific, followed a
100 strong tri-service (Navy, Army and Air Force) New Zealand
Defense Force Guard of Honor.
A commemorative service subsequently was held in the Wellington
Cathedral in the presence of Silvia Cartwright, governor-general of
New Zealand, and Prime Minister Helen Clark.
The parade later marched into Parliament Grounds, where the
prime minister inspected the Guard of Honor.
Aircraft from the Royal New Zealand Air Force conducted a flyby
at the conclusion of the event.
(Xinhua News Agency August 15, 2005)