RSA calls for an extra day to recognise all war veterans

By Chris Valli

The Nelson Marlborough RSA is supporting claims from RSA national president Buck Shelford for a second national day to honour the country’s war veterans.

One week out from Anzac Day, the Returned and Services’ Association (RSA) is pushing for an additional national day to honour the country’s war veterans.

RSA District President of Nelson, Marlborough, and West Coast John Forrest says he wholeheartedly supports the idea and is something he says, that’s been coming for a while.

John says a second national day to honour veterans would allow those to take more time to see graves and cemeteries which he says many RSA are currently doing. John should know more than most as his own father did two tours to the South Pacific and suffered post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on his return.(Dec 7, 1941 - Sept 2, 1945)

“He operated as a medic and operated on serviceman who were badly wounded and weren’t able to return,” he says. “An extra day could potentially mean taking extra time to remember my uncles who also went to Gallipoli. It’s a great idea.”

RSA national president Sir Wayne Shelford says the thousands who have returned from military deployment in the last 35 years do not believe their service is valued.

About 60,000 people have served since 1990, Shelford said.

Some of those who have served have been killed, others have come back maimed or with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

“Anzac [Day] is about Anzac, we’re never going to forget it because it was a big war... but we want to have a day just to salute the veterans who have actually done military service over the last 50 odd years,” he said.

All of the smaller wars have not been recognised in the way World War I and World War II have been, he said.

The proposed day of recognition would cover everything from the Māori Wars to the Gulf War - everyone who has ever served.

The RSA wants the veterans to be able to march in centres around New Zealand.

A public holiday was not wanted and would be in line with other days for recognised causes like Daffodil Day, Shelford said.

“We’ve spoken to the minister of defence and he says I don’t see why not.”