03 June 2008
Thousands of Vietnam veterans and their families finally got their long overdue welcome home at Tribute08 in Wellington over Queen’s Birthday Weekend.
The veterans were welcomed to the city on Friday afternoon by Mayor Kerry Prendergast at a ceremony held in Civic Square which ended with a Beat Retreat performed by the NZ Army.
On Saturday morning an Honour Parade saw veterans, families, Army bands and the Central Band of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) marching from Civic Square to Parliament.
After being greeted by the Prime Minister family members carried photos of the 37 personnel that lost their lives in Vietnam into the Legislative Council Chamber as part of a whakanoa (healing) ceremony.
On Sunday morning a waka wairua containing the spirits of those who lost their lives in Vietnam was taken from Legislative Council Chamber to the National War Memorial in Buckle Street where they were honoured with a wreath laying ceremony.
The veterans and their families then marched to the Basin Reserve for a commemoration and celebration including speeches and a 37-gun salute for each of those killed in Vietnam. His Excellency the Governor General of New Zealand the Honorable Anand Satyanand received a Royal Salute from the tri-Service Guard of Honour.
Some of the veterans were moved to tears during Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae’s speech, “I would simply ask for your forgiveness for our shortcomings in the past, and I apologise for the impact these shortcomings have had on you and on your families. You served loyally, you served with honour and I pledge my determination to correct the failings of the past.
I know it is long overdue, but to our New Zealand Vietnam veterans - welcome home.”
The speech received a standing ovation from many of the veterans.
During the ceremony 1RNZIR was presented with its Regimental Colour with the Theatre Honour – Vietnam 1967 - 71, updated to acknowledge all infantry companies that served in Vietnam.
The ceremony also included performances by the NZ Army Band, the Central Band of the RNZAF, Wellington College kapa haka and choir and concluded with a flypast of six Iroquois.
ENDS