Boorowa RSL Sub-Branch held a Remembrance Day Commemoration service at the Boorowa War Memorial starting at 10:45 am.
Dean Franklin attended the service and said it was great to see how many people came along to support the service.
The focus of this year’s service was the 50th anniversary of the end of Australia’s involvement in Vietnam. What the Sub-Branch did is they actually sent out letters to all of the surviving Vietnam veterans that enlisted from Boorowa, and so they were fortunate enough to have three veterans join, and one veteran’s spouse came along as well,” he said.
“The service was all attended, and our historian Ann Wales actually told a good history of Boorowa locals joining the service to go to Vietnam, whether they were conscripted or whether they volunteered.
“It was a good turnout. Some said it might have been the best turnout they’ve seen for a while. Then it was followed up by a luncheon down at the Services Club, which was about 30 or 35 people who came along to that.
“We unveiled a frame of all the photos of the Boorowa personnel who enlisted in Vietnam. That is going to be displayed at both the War Memorial and the Services Club.”
The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Remembrance Day, has become a time to not only remember those who have given their lives in service, but also to reflect on the historical events that led to this day of international significance.
To see this many people support the day, especially in a smaller town like Boorowa, was significant for the veterans who attended.
“For me, it’s not surprising in Boorowa. Boorowa is always really good at community events, especially Anzac Day and Remembrance Day. For me, as a veteran, it’s heartening to see the amount of respect. The number of people who came up to me afterwards and thanked me for my service was very humbling. I wasn’t expecting that. It is very heartening, especially with the current situation where we are sort of pushing against wars around the world, for people to still acknowledge us and represent us; it is good.
“We had the Welcome to Country and acknowledged the master of ceremonies, who was an ex-Air Force RSL member, he opened it up and then he called on Ann Wales, our historian, and she gave a good speech on the personnel, the history of the Vietnam War and where, as she called it, where our boys went, and then that was followed by a bugler, Robin Winterflood. She played the Last Post and Rouse.
“We had the Ode, Last Post, Minutes’ Silence and Rouse, which was followed by the National anthem, and then everyone sort of adjourned down to the Services Club.”
– Jack Murray
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