VANZ News Issue 4
United States Secretary of State in New Zealand
United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with New Zealand and American veterans at a wreath laying ceremony at the National War Memorial in November.
On her arrival at the war memorial in Wellington, Secretary Clinton was met by the Defence Minister, the Honourable Dr Wayne Mapp, and introduced to Rear Admiral Jack Steer, Vice Chief of Defence Force (left); Rick Ottaway, General Manager Veterans’ Affairs and Lieutenant General (rtd) Don McIver, National President of the Royal Returned and Services’ Association. As she paid her respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior the Peace Bell tolled.
Accompanied by Defence Minister Mapp, she went into the Hall of Memories for the wreath laying. As the Last Post played the New Zealand and American flags were lowered to half mast outside before being raised again during the Reveille. She laid a single red rose on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, stopping to read the inscriptions along its side.
During her three day visit to New Zealand Hillary Clinton also visited the Antarctic Centre in Christchurch and spoke to an audience at the Christchurch Town Hall.