Community members are invited to attend Vietnam Veterans Day, which will be held at the Cenotaph in Victoria Park on Friday, 18th August commencing at 11:00am.
The commemorations for the Battle of Long Tan this year will honour all Australians who served their country during the Vietnam War.
Some 60,000 Australians served their country in the Vietnam Conflict from 1962 until 1975.
Australian suffered 521 dead and more than 3,000 wounded during this conflict and many more veterans suffered, and continue to suffer, as a result of their service. It was a war, though undeclared, that Australians did not seek, but they were young, proud, determined and confident. They had wonderful qualities and values taught to them by a previous generation who had also seen war.
As young men and women, they lived in a time when draft-dodging was a dirty word and the domino theory was a constant theme. Service of country was never questioned. Australians were involved in many engagements, including Operation Crimp in January 1966, the Battle of Long Tan 18th August 1966 (and, hence, the date for this day of Remembrance), 1968; heavy fighting around Bien Hoa and Long Binh during Operation Coburg at the time of the Tet Offensive, the battles for Fire Support Bases Coral and Balmoral, actions during Operation Goodwood around Hat Dich in 1968-69, the battle of Binh Ba in 1969 and in 1971 the Battle of Long Khanh.
We must never forget the price that our Vietnam veterans paid for their service.
The bravery, tenacity and sacrifice of the Australian and New Zealand soldiers in the Battle of Long Tan, and the support provided to them by the RAAF and by artillerymen from Australia, New Zealand and the United States are remembered as one of the Vietnam War’s defining moments.