The grind of war not only affected those men and women on the front lines, but the loved ones they left behind.
That was the theme of today's Anzac Day civic service where hundreds of locals, and the occasional tourist, lined Fenton St and Memorial Dr to watch the traditional parade to mark the 102nd anniversary of the Gallipoli landings.
People paid their respects to veterans who marched past the cenotaph in the Government Gardens with polite applause before they packed the Civic Theatre in the Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre, with a few hundred more taking up seats in the foyer to watch the service on a big screen.
Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick started the ceremony by thanking all those in the community involved in its preparation before her husband John read out the Governor-General's message.
Joining her on stage were representatives of both the New Zealand and Australian defence forces, local MPs, district and regional councillors, veterans and members of the Rotorua RSA.
Former commander and honorary colonel of the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment's 2nd/1st Infantry Battalion, Rotorua's Leith Comer, gave the keynote address and was followed by Western Heights High School deputy head girl Shanayla Barrett on the stage.
Mr Comer had a distinguished military career and commanded his battalion on peacekeeping duties in the Sinai Desert in Egypt.
He said post-Vietnam more than 20,000 New Zealand service people had served overseas as volunteers.
"Today, we generally have an expectation that when we go to work in the morning we will return home safe and sound.
"The military is one profession where that expectation cannot be guaranteed.
"That is why men and women who voluntarily serve our country where there safety and wellbeing is at risk deserve our utmost respect," he said.
Miss Barrett told the story of her great-grandmother who during World War II had to farewell her son as he went off to battle as part of the Maori Battalion's B Company.
She said those that were left behind spent long years worrying about their safety, but also had to get on with life without their men and support them from home.
"We acknowledge the pain of those who stayed and those who left to fight, whether it was physical or emotional, one can only thank them for what they did.
"This was the grind of war," she said.
Te Arawa Maori Returned Services League president said it was great to see so many young people and families join in and watch the parade.
"It's nice to know our younger generations know the significance of the day and what these commemorations are all about," he said.