Scouts pay respects to fallen soldiers

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Scouts from the Richmond Troop paid their respects to the town’s returned servicemen and women when they laid poppies on their graves at the Richmond Cemetery on Wednesday.

About 35 scouts, cubs and keas from the troop and their leaders joined Richmond-Waimea RSA vice-president Ross Norgate in the annual ceremony which is held as part of the Anzac Day commemorations. There are over 300 returned servicemen and women buried in the cemetery which includes a dedicated returned services section.

“These kids do a really good service,” Ross says. “A lot of these old veterans, especially the guys from WWI,  may not have any family left in the district so this could be the only day of year when someone visits their grave and pays tribute to them.”

Scout, Karl Newton, 12, whose great grandfather fought in WWII says “it’s a good way to pay respect to him and everyone who served their country in the war.”