The atmosphere is quite electric - thousands of people have gathered on a beautifully sunny day. The sky is clear, the mountains in the distance seem to stand guard over a grieving city and a people in pain. As the Emergency Services personnel arrived the crowd stood as one and applauded their efforts, as bereaved families sat in an area set aside, there were tears and audible prayers.
Following on from 14 minutes of scenes of a devastated City, vision of crushed vehicles and destroyed buildings in the Red Zone that will be behind fences for another 6-12 months, a lone conch shell sounded to mark the beginning of a period of intentional memorial.
Moments later, thousands of people stood as one, the hairs on the back of the neck stood up, as with one united silent voice we remembered...
Christchurch has a long way to go to regain its hope, but maybe today the seeds were sown as united the city grieved and gathered.
