General News
16 August, 2024
Vietnam Veterans’ Day
This Sunday will mark a day of reflection and mateship for many in the community, with Vietnam Veterans’ Day set to be commemorated locally.
Vietnam Veterans’ Day takes place on August 18 each year and marks the anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan in 1966 — regarded as the fiercest battle Australian soldiers were involved in during the conflict.
The date is also earmarked on the local calendar each year, with members of the Maryborough and District Vietnam Veterans sub branch, their families and residents gathering to mark the occasion.
“I enjoy doing it and it’s something important to do,” local veteran Lee Turton said.
“I was the inaugural president of the local branch and I’ve been president a number of times since, it’s important to me and I think for the community to remember Vietnam and what it means to each of us.”
As with previous years, a Dawn Service will be held at the Maryborough Cemetery at 7 am and following this, a poppy will be placed at the grave of each known Vietnam veteran.
A mid-morning service will take place at 11 am at the memorial in Phillips Gardens (beside the senior citizens hall).
Carisbrook’s Danny McIver was around 17 when he enlisted as a regular soldier and said Vietnam Veterans’ Day is a cause for reflection.
“We basically went along thinking we were doing the right thing joining up,” he said.
“Nothing we did prepared us for what we walked into.
“Some of the jungle training we did at places like Canungra in Queensland was heart breaking, I’d even say it was soul destroying but Vietnam itself was something different.
“To me, Vietnam Veterans’ Day is important and it’s important we reflect and look back on what we experienced to learn from it.”
Mr Turton said the day is both special and solemn, particularly when remembering friends, and encouraged the community to get involved.
“There’s a lot that goes through your mind on the day — you think back on the friends you made and the friends you’ve lost,” he said.
“The day also gives you an interesting perspective, when you look at it we were the unwanted young veterans when we came home from Vietnam and now we’ve become the old veterans.
“There are fewer of us each year and we won’t be around forever, so it would be phenomenal to get as many people as we can to come along and commemorate the day.”