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In memory of my very good friend Andy Forster.
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As befitting a serviceman killed on active duty, Andy was honoured with a full military funeral.
As well as Andy's family, other guests in attendance included the Prime Minister of New Zealand,
the Minister for Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff.
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Andy had served with the NZ Defence Force for nearly three decades and was a popular and well known senior NCO.
These images hopefully convey something of the emotion of the service.
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After the service Andy's coffin was marched to the base chapel so people could pay their respects.
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A formal military salute to a great man.
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A less formal salute by those who knew and worked with Andy.
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The Armourers Ode.
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Andy doing what he did best (above and below) during his deployment to Afghanistan.
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Andy's deployment spanned an Afghan winter.
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Training prior to deployment.
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A devoted family man, Andy adored his family and loved spending time just fooling around.
(Hence the not so serious pose staring off into the distance above.)
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A final photo of a much younger Andy just prior to a flight in a RNZAF Skyhawk.
I think Andy was serving on 2 Squadron at the time.
Getting a ride in a Skyhawk was a fairly rare and much coveted privilege for ground crew.
I read the following eulogy at Andy's funeral.
It is from the movie "Waking Ned Devine" and I thought the words particularly apt.
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Andy Forster was my great friend,
but I don't ever remember telling him that.
The words that are spoken at a funeral,
are spoken too late for the man that has passed.
What a wonderful thing it would be to visit your own funeral,
to sit at the front and hear what was said,
maybe to say a few things yourself.
Andy and I grew old together
but at times, when we laughed, we grew young.
If he was here now,
if he could hear what I say,
I'd congratulate him on being a great man,
and thank him for being a great friend.
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