2023 marks 60 years since the arrival of the Australian Army Training team (AATTV) in South Vietnam (SVN) on the 3 August 1962, and 50 years since the withdrawal of combat troops in 1972. The Australian Government intends to mark the occasion with a national Commemorative Service, televised by the ABC, on the 18 August 2023 from the Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial (AVFNM) in Canberra.
As many Vietnam Veterans and the NOK of those KIA are too old or frail to travel to Canberra to attend that ceremony, the Vietnam Veterans Vigil (VVV) Committee called for volunteers to hold a Service of Remembrance at every grave or Commemorative plaque site across the nation and overseas on the 3 August 2023. The Service provided surviving Vietnam Veterans and the Australian people the opportunity to participate in a meaningful way right across the nation and overseas in recognizing the individual loss and to pay their respects to those who were Killed in Action (KIA) and to show solidarity with their loved ones for their loss.
The VVV Committee held a Dawn Service at the AVFNM in Canberra, and Services were held at 1100 (local time) across Australia and in Malaysia, and the last Service was held in Scotland. VMC Federal conducted a service at the Binalong cemetery for Pte Peter Joseph Jackson KIA 15 June 1969 aged 21, and at Norwood Park for Lt Bernard Garland KIA 22 April 1970 age 23.
We also pay our respect this year to all Vietnam War Veterans as 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War conflict.
From 1962 to 1973, more than 60,000 Australians served in the Vietnam War. They were part of an allied force led by the United States. Australians fought alongside South Vietnamese Government troops against the Vietcong, a communist-led insurgent force supported by the North Vietnamese Army.
In 1964, the National Service Act introduced a scheme of selective conscription in Australia, designed to create an army of 40,000 full-time soldiers. Many of them were sent on active service to the war in Vietnam.
523 Australians died during the Vietnam War and around 3000 were wounded.
LEST WE FORGET.
SAVE THE DATE
On the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, a minutes silence is observed and dedicated to those Sailors, Soldiers and Airman who died fighting to protect our nation.
2023 RIDE FOR REMEMBERENCE POKER RUN WILL BE HELD ON THE 16TH NOV 2024
Stay tuned for futher details
