Coronavirus: Marking Anzac Day in lockdown
Tuesday, 21 April 2020
Kiwis are encouraged to mark Anzac Day at home this year as the coronavirus keeps the country in lockdown.
Services are cancelled for the first time in 104 years, a decision that brought Royal New Zealand RSA national president BJ Clark to tears.
Here are some of the ways you can honour our fallen and returned soldiers from the safety of your doorstep.
Stand at Dawn
Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association has called for New Zealanders to stand at their driveways, living rooms, balconies or work stations at 6am on April 25.
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* Anzac Day commemorations in doubt**
The initiative will allow Kiwis to commemorate Anzac Day from the safety of their bubbles with parades and services cancelled due to the global pandemic.
Christchurch RSA president Jim Lilley said the tradition of remembering and commemorating our veterans and service personnel would not be stopped by the coronavirus.
“We would like you to join us to remember those who given their lives for our country,” he said.
“Wherever you are in the world, stand with us and take a moment to remember our fallen – but please stay within your bubble.
Lay a digital poppy
As lockdown restrictions remain in place, Auckland Museum has set up an online space where Kiwis can place a virtual poppy to continue the longstanding tradition.
The Online Cenotaph encourages people to come together, leave messages for loved ones and read stories of people who have served.
It also features a guide on how to make poppies, Anzac biscuits and how to wear a family member’s medal with pride.
Although its doors are closed to the public, the museum will continue its tradition to play The Last Post, raise and lower its flags on the Northern façade at dawn and dusk and remain lit up from dusk until dawn daily.
Landmarks light up
Auckland’s Harbour Bridge and popular cycleway known as the lightpath will glow poppy-red from Tuesday April 21 to Saturday April 25 at 7.30pm to midnight.
Auckland War Memorial will also shine in red as a tribute to the Anzacs from Friday April 24 until dawn on Sunday April 26.
Finally, all three landmarks along with the Sky Tower will light up in unison from 3am to 7am on Saturday April 25 to usher in the dawn on Anzac Day.
Teddy bears with poppies
A symbol of solidarity throughout the lockdown has been the practise of placing teddy bears in windows.
Auckland Council are calling on families to make a poppy for their teddy bears to wear and dress their entire window in red in the week before and after Anzac Day.
“As whānau walk with children around the block and notice poppy-wearing teddies in neighbourhood windows, grown-ups can tell stories of family war-time heroes and convey the significance of this day for New Zealand,” the council said.
Virtual dawn service
Radio New Zealand will broadcast an Anzac Day dawn service at 6am, bringing Kiwis elements of the traditional service with the music of The Last Post and the national anthem.
Kiwis are encouraged to listen live on their phones or radios as they stand at dawn across the country.
'This Anzac Day will feel different, but the sentiment will be the same,' Auckland RSA president Graham Gibson said.
'From the New Zealand Wars in the 1800s to those who died in Afghanistan, we will remember them.'
Poppy cut-out
Stuff readers are encouraged to download the image below, that will also appear in some of our print publications this week, to stick in their windows.