CPL Kadin Fowler and I were lucky enough to attend the National Commemoration of Service in Bomber Command held at the National War Memorial on the 26th September.
It was to honour NZ’s involvement in Bomber Command during World War 2, and to remember the 55,573 airmen who died in action, of which 1,851 were NZers.
It was a great service with many dignitaries including the Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Minister of Veteran Affairs and many Ambassadors and High Commissioners, as well as many Veterans that I had accompanied to London three months earlier.
CPL Fowler and I laid a wreath representing the youth of New Zealand, which was a great privilege for us.
After the service there was a function at Parliament Buildings for everyone. It was a good chance to mingle and catch up with the Veterans and the Prime Minister.
At Parliament they had an unveiling of a painting for Bomber Command, it was painted by CPT Matt Gauldie – the Defence Force Artist. I was lucky enough to have been a model for the painting several weeks ago, as CPT Gauldie wanted an image of a young person in the flight crew. That is me, the Forward Gunner! The painting is fantastic and besides paint has other materials including metal in it.
It was a great day for both of us, good to catch up with Veterans and to honour those who went before us.
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