Glenn Burt's poppy was proudly pinned on his chest as he commemorated Anzac Day with an understanding of the sacrifices made after serving three decades in the Royal New Zealand Navy.
Katikati's dawn and civic services hit home for the Katikati RSA vice president who served 33 years with the Royal New Zealand Navy in the naval reserve and regular forces.
"I have grown up really understanding what Anzac is about and what it means for our future generations," Burt said. "It was an emotive ceremony."
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Burt was 17 when he signed up for the Navy and retired from his service only four years ago.
The 72-year-old was moved at the defence force presentation and the laying of the wreaths.
"It was a very special morning," Burt said.
More than 300 people commemorated Anzac Day at dawn, while a larger crowd of about 600 attended the main civic service, Burt guessed.
After the ceremony people were invited back to the Katikati RSA for a light lunch and to further commemorate the anniversary of the landing of New Zealand and Australian soldiers on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915.
Burt said as many as 25 wreaths were laid at the civic service "which was a lot for a little community like Katikati".
"[It shows] that the community supports what Anzac stood for and still does," he said.
Guest speakers at the dawn service included two Navy soldiers and the head boy and girl of Katikati College.
The main civic service parade was led by a local Tongan church band which "was pretty amazing", Burt said.
The local choir and band also performed the national anthem and hymns.
Katikati-Waihi Beach Ward councillor Peter Mackay also attended the services to remember the soldiers who died serving their country and all who returned.
Mackay attended Anzac Day services every year and was pleased to see younger generations in the crowds.
"It means the community now realises how important it is to show respect for those who made sacrifices to give us the lives we have today," he said.
The Katikati councillor said he had spent 10 years in the Royal New Zealand Army, while his great grandfather, grandfather, uncle, father, brother, all too served in the war.
"That is just what you had to do in the day and it is nice to be able to stop and remember the sacrifices they made that gave us our country and what it is today," he said.