By Dan Parker
From the National War Memorial to the Pukerua Bay town hall, Anzac services all around the country made special mention of those who died in the crash.
But at times no one was quite sure exactly how many had died – not even the governor general.
While defence force personnel were mourning the dead at Anzac celebrations all over the country; vice chief jack Steer was at Wellington Hospital visiting the sole survivor from the Iroquois crash.
“He's in the intensive care unit, he's doing okay and he's definitely alive,” says Mr Steer.
Mr Steer had earlier been at a service at the National War Memorial where confusion about how many lives the crash had claimed was evident at the highest level.
“I'm sadly advised in the course of our service, that the number of deaths is now four,” Sir Anand Satyanand said earlier today.
That mistake, based on incorrect information which was also passed on to the defence minister, was soon corrected though.
But the ceremony, which was to remember the fallen from a battles long past, was clearly affected by the armed forces most recent casualties.
“For this loss is felt by all who are part of the defence force family. How poignantly, oh Lord, are we reminded by the cost of service where ever that may be,” principal army chaplain Lance Lukin prayed.
“For a tragedy like this to happen on Anzac morning is absolutely devastating,” says deputy police commissioner Howard Broad.
The Air Force's loss was perhaps most movingly captured by its own band which performed Edward Elgar's rendition of 'For the Fallen'.
Closer to crash site at the Anzac service in Pukerua Bay, the tributes continued.
Many residents of the small township awoke to news of tragedy while those at the local Anzac service were also in shock.
“It really brings it home to you, you know what the servicemen do and it's a risky business flying anyway, well it can be. I'm an ex-pilot myself and I feel for the services,” said local Emrys Evans.
And that was a sentiment shared by many; including those in the armed forces who have a new tragic memory for a day set aside for remembrance.
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