A small and dedicated crowd attended a ceremony at Maldon Cenotaph on Monday 18 August to mark Vietnam Veterans’ Day, which takes place on the anniversary of the 1966 Battle of Long Tan. Although there are few Vietnam Vets in the local area, other community members and veterans also laid wreaths and paused for a minute’s silence to reflect upon the memory of those who served and those who died in the Vietnam War.
Around 60,000 Australians served in the Vietnam War between 1962 and 1973, of which over 500 died and thousands were injured. Maldon RSL President Kevin Moschetti spoke at the service about the Battle of Long Tan but also went into detail about some of the other significant battles of the war; deadly and with multiple fronts. Mr Moschetti also noted that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon and Operation Babylift, a mass evacuation of children from South Vietnam to western nations including Australia.
The service proceeded with the laying of a wreath and bouquets of rosemary. Zoe Boyd, the floral artist who created the wreath, once again used symbolic blooms including varieties of wattle to match each of the Vietnam operations mentioned and spring blossoms to represent the Operation Babylift evacuations. A moving minute of silence followed the Last Post as the flags fluttered at half mast.
Attendees at any RSL ceremony have vivid stories to tell, they quietly remember those who have been lost to war and they quietly hold memories of their own experiences. Services like this are a chance for everyone to take a minute, remember the significance of the Vietnam War and other wars, perhaps sharing the weight of the memories while keeping them alive.
This article appeared in Tarrangower Times, 22 August 2025.
