Hundreds gather for the ANZAC dawn service in Feilding.

Thousands of people packed into dawn services in Manawatu to acknowledge the fallen from World War I and other wars.

Even with such a big crowd in The Square, Palmerston North, it was silent for the service, with birds chirping the only sound breaking through as The Ode was read.

The weather was fine as people gathered in the central city to pay their respects.

David Unwin/ Stuff.co.nz Anzac Day dawn service in Palmerston North.

Palmerston North mayor Grant Smith reflected on the history of the city's connection with war, making everyone aware just how intertwined the past was with creating the present.

"Arena Manawatu and the AMP Showgrounds were used as temporary storage [areas] for WWI ... military training took place at the Awapuni Race Course," he said.

1 of 30 David Unwin/Fairfax NZ. A soldier stands guard at the dawn service in Palmerston North. 2 of 30 David Unwin/Fairfax NZ. Soldiers at the dawn service in Palmerston North. 3 of 30 David Unwin/Fairfax NZ. War vets watch on at the dawn service in Palmerston North. 4 of 30 David Unwin/Fairfax NZ. Soldiers at the dawn service in Palmerston North. 5 of 30 David Unwin/Fairfax NZ. The Cenotaph in The Square, Palmerston North. 6 of 30 David Unwin/Fairfax NZ. War vets lay a wreath at the dawn service in Palmerston North. 7 of 30 David Unwin/Fairfax NZ. Soldiers stand in formation at the dawn service in Palmerston North. 8 of 30 David Unwin/Fairfax NZ. A family check out the medals of a loved at the cenotaph in Palmerston North after the dawn service. 9 of 30 David Unwin/Fairfax NZ. Palmerston North public check out the cenotaph after the dawn service in the Square. 10 of 30 DAVID UNWIN / FAIRFAX NZ Soldiers march to the civic service in Palmerston North. 11 of 30 DAVID UNWIN / FAIRFAX NZ Nui Moce takes his granddaughter Addison Moce, 3, to the Palmerston North ANZAC Civic Service in The Square. 12 of 30 DAVID UNWIN / FAIRFAX NZ A soldier stands guard at the civic service in Palmerston North. 13 of 30 David Unwin/Fairfax NZ. Airforce planes do a flyover at the Civic Service in Palmerston North. 14 of 30 David Unwin/Fairfax NZ. Airforce planes do a flyover at the Civic Service in Palmerston North. 15 of 30 David Unwin/Fairfax NZ. A soldier stands guard by the cenotaph in Palmerston North. 16 of 30 DAVID UNWIN / FAIRFAX NZ A wreath at the Palmerston North civic service. 17 of 30 David Unwin/Fairfax NZ. Palmerston North Mayor Grant Smith speaks at the ANZAC Civic Service in The Square. 18 of 30 DAVID UNWIN / FAIRFAX NZ A World War 2 Vet watches on at the Civic Service in The Square, Palmerston North. 19 of 30 David Unwin/Fairfax NZ. A war vet has a seat during the civic service in Palmerston North. 20 of 30 David Unwin/Fairfax NZ. Group Captain Nick Olney RNZAF gives the main address at the Civic service in Palmerston North. 21 of 30 David Unwin/Fairfax NZ. A soldier stands guard on the Cenotaph in The Square, Palmerston North for the Civic Service. 22 of 30 DAVID UNWIN / FAIRFAX NZ Detail of a soldiers uniform at the civic service in Palmerston North. 23 of 30 David Unwin/Fairfax NZ. Members of the New Zealand Defence Force lay wreaths at the Cenotaph in Palmerston North. 24 of 30 David Unwin/Fairfax NZ. A soldier stands guard at the civic service in Palmerston North. 25 of 30 DAVID UNWIN / FAIRFAX NZ A soldier stands guard at the Cenotaph in The Square, Palmerston North during the civic service. 26 of 30 David Unwin/Fairfax NZ. Members of the New Zealand Army walk up to lay a Wreath at the Civic Service in Palmerston North. 27 of 30 DAVID UNWIN / FAIRFAX NZ Soldiers stand in formation at the Palmerston North ANZAC civic service. 28 of 30 DAVID UNWIN / FAIRFAX NZ War Vets walk up to the Cenotaph in the square to lay their wreath. 29 of 30 David Unwin/Fairfax NZ. A spitfire plane does a flyover in Palmerston North. 30 of 30 DAVID UNWIN / FAIRFAX NZ A spitfire plane does a flyover in Palmerston North.

Smith said he was pleased to see the sacrifices of generations past increasingly acknowledged by those of the present.

"Last year, more than 10,000 gathered here for the dawn service and civic service.

"Today, we pay tribute to those who are currently in service and those who have previously served their country."

DAVID UNWIN / FAIRFAX NZ Soldiers and civilians gather for the Anzac Day dawn service in Palmerston North.

Hundreds of people clad in poppy-pinned coats also gathered around the cenotaph in Feilding for a poignant service there.

Feilding RSA president Barrie Law welcomed men, women and children to sing hymns, lay wreaths and poppies and to remember all those who sacrificed their lives in war.

It was a special day for Feilding High School student president Meg Goodman, 17, who recently discovered her great great grandfather, Thomas Boyle, fought in WWI.

WARWICK SMITH / FAIRFAX NZ Anzac Day is marked in Feilding.

"He was a gunman on horseback. I didn't even know until I started digging around trying to find out more about the war and my nan told me."

She said she was very proud to have a family member who fought in the war.

"Not nearly enough people my age know about the war and they should. It's so important to know about it and acknowledge it."

VICTORIA CRAFAR / FAIRFAX NZ Several children made the early journey to the Bulls cenotaph to join in Anzac Day commemorations.

Boyle was sent back home to New Zealand after getting a bad case of measles.

Goodman said after looking around at the crowd in Feilding, it was clear how much love and respect people carried for the men and women who gave their lives for their country.

Commemorations in Bulls detoured State Highway 1 so more than 200 people could commemorate Anzac Day at the town's dawn service. Bulls RSA welfare officer Eric Beeby said it was the first year the Field of Remembrance display of crucifixes included war-fallen from World War II and Vietnam. "Before, it was only WWI. We will continue it on."

At the dawn service, Smith said when war took hold of the country and conscription was introduced it created fear in communities.

"Everyone with a son or sons was fearful or upset."

He said people turned against anything German, with two Lutheran churches vandalised in Palmerston North during World War II.

Also, a street name that sounded German, Fritz St, had to have its name changed.

However, even with fear rampant in the city, residents also banded together to show their support for soldiers.

"The soldiers club, now Cafe Cuba, was built as a community effort to support those who were fighting."

Smith also shared his link to war, with his father being a Korean war veteran.

Smith spoke again at the 9.15am civic service and said it was a matter of pride that the Palmerston North RSA had managed to pick itself up after having to close its doors in 2014.

Even though it was hard for people to comprehend the enormity of what happened in both world wars, "it was important that we try".

He spoke about the shift in Anzac Day celebrations, with the day not just being about Gallipoli any more. "We also remember those who served and died in WWII and ... peace-keeping missions that have been undertaken around the world."

Ohakea base commander Group Captain Nick Olney said this year marked the centenary since the first Anzac Day commemorations were held.

"The comradeship is something that ties our military past with our military present and our future," he said.

"Today is a day to remember all those that have gone before us and to embrace the legacy they have left behind.

"We will remember them."

Linton Military Camp chaplain Captain James Maloney led the crowd in prayer at the service.

"This morning our nation pauses to remember our fallen."

Maloney said soldiers' sacrifices were what made it possible for everyone to have the freedom they had today.

He said he hoped people left the service willing to do good in their own community.

"The hope of a better world that our soldiers died for is in vain without this."