Anzac Day means a lot of different things to a lot of different people.

For local poet Wendy Baker, Anzac Day is a way of remembering her father, her grandfather, and her uncle, who were all involved in world wars.

Today, Wendy will deliver a passionate and heartfelt poem that she has written in honour of her Anzac ancestors.

'It's all about our war veterans – they had courage, they had commitment, and they were comrades because they came together in adversity and fought for their country,” says Wendy.

'Every poem that I write on war history is a reflection on the war veterans in my family and going to ANZAC Day services for 40 years and watching my father march. I have a lot of soulful inspiration and connection to my family who fought in the wars.”

She lost an uncle to World War One, and her grandfather and her father were war veteran of World Wars. The Anzac ties run deep in Wendy's family, and the day means a lot to her.

'Yes it does, and it has done for many many years, since I was a child. It's such a significant day and we shouldn't forget the date through the year and we shouldn't forget the other dates throughout the year. Passchendaele is in October, so it's something to think about, all of these other dates throughout the year that are associated with different wars.”

'I think of the courage commitment and comrades the courage for Passchendaele which has its centenary this year, and my uncle William Torode Baker he was killed at Passchendaele in World War One. He was only 20, it was awful.”

'My grandfather, Edward Victor Baker, he was in World War One and he died, and my father Trevor William Baker, who was involved in World War Two.”

This year, Wendy will wear her father's war medals in honour of her father, who fought in World War Two and passed away in 2007.

'I've worn it for the past 10 years, in honour of my father, and I now march in honour of him at Anzac Days, and this year I have replica medals for my uncle who died at Passchendaele, so he would have got the Victory medal and the British War medal.”

'I've also got one for my grandfather, which was a British War medal.”

Delivering her poem to the crowd that will gather for the Civic Parade at Mount Maunganui RSA from 9.30am this morning will be an emotional experience for Wendy.

'It will be very very heartfelt, bringing this poem to Mount Maunganui on ANZAC Day, because that's the last place I saw my father march.”

COURAGE…COMMITMENT…AND COMRADES

Courage…commitment…and Comrades

They enlisted with Courage….
not knowing what lay ahead
Young Men and Women….
for their Country…they led

In all hearts there was Commitment….
…to `never never give in`
helped by Churchill`s inspiring words….
the war they did win

But…to grieve for War Comrades…
the loss was too great
Men and Women sacrificed their souls
…..they were military mates

Tears should be shed….
to respect and honour their memory
…A poppy we place on a War Memorial….
so tender…and lovingly