ANZAC Day in Tonga ― Date, History, and Details
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History of ANZAC Day in Tonga and How to Celebrate/ Observe It
ANZAC Day is a national day of remembrance in Tonga for those who have served in the Australian and New Zealand armed forces. The day is also observed as a public holiday. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The day commemorates the landing of troops from these countries at Gallipoli, Turkey during World War I on April 25, 1915. The troops were trying to capture the Dardanelles Strait from the Ottoman Empire in order to open up a supply route to Russia. The campaign was ultimately unsuccessful and resulted in heavy casualties on both sides.
In Tonga, ANZAC Day is marked with a dawn service at the war memorial in Nuku’alofa, the capital city. This is followed by a parade through the streets, led by the Tongan Defence Services. Wreaths are laid at the war memorial and at the graves of soldiers buried in the Tongan capital. A church service is also held to remember those who have died in conflicts.