28 March 2008
The drums and brass of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Central Band began the Air Force’s 71st anniversary commemorations on the right beat last night during a ceremony at Te Papa Tongarewa.
The commemorations included the ceremony of Beating Retreat – a tradition that would see drummers, half an hour before sunset, beating retreat to warn guards that the gates were about to close. Today it is a way of commemorating the fallen in all Commonwealth armed forces.
The birthday celebrations, hosted by Chief of Air Force Air Vice-Marshal Graham Lintott, were attended by the Governor General Anand Satyanand, the Secretary of Defence John McKinnon, Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae and 300 service men and women and members of the public.
A separate, smaller ceremony will be held at 2.00pm on Sunday 30 March at the Wellington Cathedral where the RNZAF Queen’s Colour and the Standards of No. 3,5,40 and 42 Squadrons are to be paraded. RNZAF bases around the country will also celebrate the occasion.
ENDS
For further information please contact Anna Sussmilch, Defence Public Relations, on 04 496 0286 or 021 676 338.