Commemorations of Australia’s involvement in the Vewtnam War will be held at the Cenotaph in Memorial Park on Friday 18th August at 2pm.
The Canowindra RSL sub-Branch will be holding a wreath laying ceremony in Memorial Park on Friday, 18th August at 2pm to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War.
This service is an opportunity for local residents to honour our Vietnam veterans for their service, and remember those who did not return, everyone is welcome to attend with an opportunity to lay a personal wreath if desired.
The sub-Branch is in the process of updating the Vietnam Memorial list on the front of the Canowindra Service Club, if you know of anyone whose address was Canowindra when they enlisted, and you would like to have their name added to the list please let us know.
The arrival of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) in South Vietnam during July and August 1962 was the beginning of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War. From the time of the arrival of the first members of the Team over 60,000 Australians, including ground troops and air force and navy personnel, served in Vietnam; 523 died as a result of the war and almost 2,400 were wounded, many more came home with hidden scars. Australia’s participation in the war was formally declared at an end on 11th January 1973.
The war was the cause of the greatest social and political dissent in Australia since the conscription referendums of the First World War. Many draft resisters, conscientious objectors, and protesters were fined or jailed, while soldiers met a hostile reception on their return home.
To acknowledge the 50th anniversary of the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs have produced a Commemorative Medallion and Certificate of Commemoration that will be made available to every living veteran, widows and other family members of veterans of the Vietnam War.
While Australia can never repay the debt we owe to the 60,000 who served in Vietnam, this medallion and certificate are a small but meaningful way to honour their service and to recognise the sacrifice of those who never returned home. Application via www.dva.gov.au or call 1800 838 372.
For more information contact Christine McIlvain, Canowindra RSL sub-Branch 6344 2916.