The Vietnam war was Australia’s longest war of the 20th century. More than 60,000 Australians served, 3,000 were wounded, and 523 died.
In the early 1970s, more than 200,000 people marched in the streets of Australia’s major cities in protest of the war. And last Friday 18 August a small gathering of locals assembled at the Maldon cenotaph. Here the Maldon RSL conducted a service to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam war.
Small in number they might have been at the Maldon gardens, but they certainly were not alone. Thousands of Australians gathered across the country to honour the service and sacrifice of Vietnam veterans.
Prime Minister Mr Albanese spoke from Canberra of the taunts and jeers that once welcomed home many veterans. “Many of our troops returned to face new battles at home and not every one of those battles was won – it is important as Australians that we know the stories of service in Vietnam and what our veterans faced when they returned home,” he said.
The final withdrawal was in 1973. And it wasn’t until 1987 during a Welcome Home parade in Sydney, when Australians marched in the streets again – this time as the nation honoured the service of our Vietnam veterans.
Back here at home, Kevin Moschetti from the Maldon RSL Sub-Branch said, “Vietnam vets were not treated right because it was an unpopular war, but soldiers don’t start wars – we should never take it out on our soldiers. Today is the day we say thank you to our Vietnam veterans.”
Lest we forget.
This article appeared in the Tarrangower Times, 25 August 2023.
