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Vietnam War veteran attends last dawn parade in casket

Author
Christina Campbell ,
Publish Date
Wed, 26 Apr 2017, 8:10AM
Manu Toko sits with his father's medals. (Brett Phibbs)

Vietnam War veteran attends last dawn parade in casket

Author
Christina Campbell ,
Publish Date
Wed, 26 Apr 2017, 8:10AM

One last dawn service for a fallen soldier.

Vietnam War veteran Francis Toko had always planned to be at this year's Anzac Day commemorations at Auckland's War Memorial Museum - but he died on Monday.

His family took his casket along and placed it in front of the Weeping Wall.

 

His son Manu Toko told Larry Williams his father had attended a dawn service nearly every year since he left the army.

"When he died the day before this dawn parade service, it was my resolve that we needed to take him to his last service."

Toko said his father was always so proud when attending Anzac Day services.

He said his father had to be at the dawn service, and had every right to be there.

LISTEN ABOVE AS MANU TOKO SPEAKS WITH LARRY WILLIAMS 

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