Coming together in a Place to Remember on February 22

Shannon Beynon Reporter from Christchurch Mail

First responders, a representative of those injured in the earthquakes and a talented young local musician will play key roles in next week’s Dedication of the Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial and Civic Commemorative event marking the sixth anniversary of the deadly quake.

The event starts at 12 noon on February 22, at the Memorial site on the Ōtākaro/Avon River, in the area bordered by the Montreal Street Bridge, Durham Street, and Cambridge and Oxford Terraces.

The Memorial will be a place for people to reflect on the devastating earthquakes that changed Canterbury and its communities forever, honouring those who lost their lives on 22 February 2011, and acknowledging those who were seriously injured and everyone who helped in the rescue and recovery operation.

The Order of Service summary for the event released today includes:

- The names of the 185 people who died in the February 22 2011 Earthquake to be read in an order reflecting their arrangement on the Memorial Wall – an arrangement guided by the wishes of their bereaved families;

- Representatives from First Responder groups who assisted in the rescue and recovery unveiling the Words of Acknowledgement on the Memorial Wall;

- Bev Edwards, representing people psychologically and physically injured in the earthquakes, reading the Dedication of the Earthquake Memorial;

- And moving musical performances by young Lyttelton musician Marlon Williams and lone piper Tom Glover.

Families from around the world who lost loved ones on this day six years ago, and those who were seriously injured will join local and national dignitaries and first responders as invited guests, along with dignitaries from countries which lost people in the quake, and those that sent rescue and recovery teams to help in the days and weeks following the devastating earthquake. Many of these first responder groups and dignitaries will also lay wreaths at the service.

Two large areas with screens have been reserved for the public, and the event will be live streamed to enable people throughout New Zealand to share in remembering and reflecting, and acknowledge the help and support that was received.

Ōtākaro Limited, Christchurch City Council, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and the Ministry of Culture and Heritage have worked together to deliver the Memorial.

A Facebook page www.facebook.com... has information and updates on the Memorial, and people are encouraged to share their stories of the earthquakes and give thanks to those that helped out at www.quakestories.co.nz...

The event will be livestreamed at www.canterburyearthquakememorial.co.nz...