Korean Veteran Gordon Dickson about to lay a wreath at Remembrance Day last year.
Parkes RSL Sub Branch, at its July meeting decided it would honour the Korean Veterans in our community. The hardship of overseas service extends to the family and friends, our servicemen and women leave behind and we should commemorate their service and sacrifice.
Two dates have been set aside for the 50th Anniversary of the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War.
On Thursday, 3rd August members of the Parkes RSL Sub Branch will conduct a Remembrance Service honouring the servicemen who lost their lives during the 10-year war. 536 servicemen will be remembered across Australia at services at all Australian towns and cities at graves or places of Remembrance.
The Parkes RSL Sub Branch will be honouring three former residents; Anatoly Danilenko who was killed on 25th April, 1968, Douglas Roy Powter, who died on 7th February, 1967 and Denis John Donnelly who died on the 9th August, 1967. Both Danilenko and Powter are buried at the Parkes Cemetery whilst Donnelly is buried at Mudgee.
The service will be held at the Cenotaph in Cooke Park commencing at 11am and it is hoped that as many Parkes and district ex-service personnel can attend as possible, especially those who served in Vietnam.
The fiannual Vietnam Veterans Day service will be held on Friday 18th August at the Vietnam Memorial on Memorial Hill commencing at 11am.
Following the Memorial Service, the Parkes RSL Sub Branch will be conducting a Commemorative Luncheon at the Parkes Services & Citizens Club commencing at 12 noon and tickets can be obtained from the Secretary, Mr Paul Thomas on 0427 624 683 for the cost of $40, which covers the Luncheon and drinks which are limited to beer, wine or soft drinks.