They march for those who no longer can: A town remembers its veterans
Gisborne will mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II with a Combined Services Remembrance Day service this Sunday. The event will honor veterans, including distinguished Royal New Zealand Navy veteran Ken Gordon, 98, who will attend with his daughter Fiona and son Alister.
Gordon, who served on HMNZS Gambia and witnessed Japan’s signing of the armistice aboard USS Missouri in September 1945, recently received a letter from King Charles recognizing his service. His remarkable wartime experiences will be retold by guest speaker Jack Donnelly, BEM, a 34-year Navy veteran.
“I will speak of Gordon’s very graphic and descriptive story,”
Donnelly told the Gisborne Herald, referring to Gordon as a “living legend.”
Also attending will be Tuwhakairiora “Toti” Tukhaka, QSM, one of Gordon’s former trainees and a veteran of the Korean War in the early 1950s.
The March to Remember
“They march for those who no longer march and in the footsteps of those who are no longer with us. Their pride, discipline and bearing will shine through. We thank them for their service.”
The March to Remember, led by Gisborne veterans, remains one of the most moving parts of the ceremony, symbolizing respect and continuity across generations of service.
Author’s Summary
The article highlights Gisborne’s tribute to veterans, centering on 98-year-old Ken Gordon’s enduring legacy and the community’s heartfelt remembrance of wartime sacrifice.