Waikumete Cemetery.

[corsair67]

Just found this at 'stuff.co.nz'. Good to hear that the ATC is getting involved.

Cadets to clean vets' gravesite
25 February 2006
By LEANNE WARR

Air cadets are being recruited to help clean up 72 war graves at Waikumete Cemetery.

The No 19 (Auckland) Squadron Air Training Corps will start work in April.

Maintenance will be carried out twice a year.

Auckland District RSA spokesman Matt McMillan says commissioning of the work is a real breakthrough.

"This has never happened before.

"Until now, the graves of returned servicemen and women, who died from 1914 to 1921, have been under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Culture and Heritage.

"It seems fitting that the graves of these servicemen and women who gave their lives for their country are being cared for by these cadets."

The scheme is supported by the Waitakere City Council and the ministry.

Mr McMillan hopes other councils and RSAs throughout the country will follow Waitakere's lead and organise something similiar.

Councillor Janet Clews is full of praise for the initiative.

"We appreciate the fact they are giving up their time to do it.

"There are many unsung heroes, and these are some of them."

Mrs Clews says it will be a good chance for the cadets to learn how some of the returned servicemen and women died.

[dpdouglas]

Yes we at 30 Squadron were supposed to help out with the event but 19 Squadron snuck in before us.

[dpdouglas]

I do hope though that our squdron does get involved.

[Dave Homewood]

Darryn, if you and your squadron do become involved in helping to clean the headstones, etc, it might be a nice idea to select some of the names of RNZAF men (and women if any) that you come across, and do some research into their careers and their fate that lead to them being there. It could be a great learning experience.

I think it is a great idea to get the ATC, in fact the youth at large, involved in the upkeep of the war graves. It may make some stop and think a little about the sacrifice those dead made for us. Well done ATC.

[dpdouglas]

Thank you Dave for that excellent idea. I will however be seeing if some cadets are able to help out by speaking with the 19 squadron person in charge. Hopefully we can still help.