Vietnam Veterans’ Day ceremony to commemorate brave Australian servicemen and women
The City of Salisbury will commemorate the Australian servicemen and women deployed during the Vietnam War at its annual ceremony for Vietnam Veterans’ Day.
City of Salisbury Mayor Gillian Aldridge OAM said Vietnam Veterans’ Day is an important day for countless residents to commemorate the sacrifices made by Australian servicemen and women.
“It is an opportunity to reflect upon their courage, to remember those who have died, and to provide support to the veterans who are still with us,” Mayor Aldridge said.
A special free ceremony will be held at Montague Farm Estate, on Henderson Avenue, Pooraka, on Thursday, August 18 at 11am to acknowledge the anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan.
The Vietnam War is the longest conflict in which Australians were involved in the 20th Century, with the conflict lasting for over a decade.
The first Australians to arrive in South Vietnam in 1962 were members of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam. Australian forces would continue to serve in the war until 1972.
In addition, a Royal Australian Air Force deployment of Hercules transport planes were tasked to evacuate Vietnamese civilians from March 29 to April 29, 1975.
Of the 521 Australian servicemen killed in the war, 59 of them were from South Australia and the majority of them have been recognised in the naming of streets and reserves in the Montague Farm Estate.
For residents who are unable to attend the special ceremony, the event will be live-streamed and made available on the City of Salisbury’s YouTube channel.
For more information about the City of Salisbury’s Vietnam Veterans’ Day special ceremony, please click here.