Vietnam Veterans’ Day: Honouring their sacrifice

Veterans, families and the broader community came together today across the City of Moreton Bay for services to mark Vietnam Veterans’ Day.

Veterans at the The Bray Park-Strathpine RSL Sub Branch service at Club Pine Rivers were told “this community stands with you”.

See the photo gallery at the end of this story.

President Dan Grono said veterans and their families’ lives were forever changed by the war.

This year marks 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War, with about 60,000 Australians, including ground troops and air force and navy personnel, serving in Vietnam from 1962-73.

The fall of Saigon in 1975 signalled the official end of the war.

During the conflict, 523 Australians died and 2400 were wounded in an attempt to stop the spread of the North’s Communist regime into South Vietnam. The toll doesn’t account for the psychological scars suffered by many who returned to an unsympathetic and, at times, hostile environment.

“When we speak of the Vietnam War, we often recall the Battle of Long Tan fought on this day in 1966... 18 Australians gave their lives on that day. Their story has become a symbol of resilience and sacrifice, but it is only one chapter of a much larger history,” Mr Grono said.

“The war itself was not one battle. It was years of demanding service.”

In honouring the veterans at tonight’s service, he invited those present to stand in front of the memorial so the crowd gathered could applaud their sacrifice.

The service included a memorial poem recited by Deputy President Lin Lahey and a tribute from Bray Park State High School’s Amber Nutley to her late grandfather who fought in Vietnam.

Photo gallery 

By Dominika Lis