General News
15 November, 2024
We’ll never forget them
Vietnam veteran James Richard Dickson, of Trinity Beach, attended Remembrance Day to pay his respects to all fallen soldiers and friends lost in war. Picture: Isabella Guzman Gonzalez
Under a solemn sky the community stood united in respect, remembrance and reflection this Remembrance Day, which commemorates 106 years of the armistice, and honours the 100,000-plus Australians that have died in conflict across the years.
Veterans, service personnel, their families and students held a minute of silence and laid wreaths to remember those who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of our community.
“It’s fantastic to see a few hundred people here today, families and school children attending and commemorating our veterans,” said Cairns RSL Sub Branch president Nathan Shingles.
“Remembrance Day is a more solemn occasion than ANZAC Day and it’s a time to think about the ones that were lost, and I think most people that have served have lost someone during service," he said.
“You can still observe Remembrance Day in your own time and we strongly advocate for that too.
"There’s currently Australian Defence Force personnel deployed across the globe right now, so it’s good to have a think about them.
“If you have the time just reflect on the over 103,000 Australian men and women that have died for this country to make this country what it is.”
Vietnam veteran James Richard Dickson attended the service with his son and said it was important to always remember our service men and women.
“I spent 29 years in the Defence Force from 1957 to 1986 and I served in Vietnam for 12 months,” he said.
“I think Remembrance Day is very important. I served in Vietnam and people would fly off and they didn’t come back, some of my best mates didn’t come back.
“We talked about the thousands of people we lost over World War I but we also need to mention the over 150,000 that suffered with PTSD and all sorts of injuries and mental problems. These things affect you and this is a critical day to think about that.”
