Today is Vietnam Veterans Day, 60 years since Australia’s first involvement in the Vietnam War. August 18 marks the 56th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan.
It was Australia’s longest military engagement of the 20th century. Almost 60,000 Australians served in the Vietnam War. Of these, 3,000 were wounded, and 521 were killed.
Today, we remember them, and listen to the stories of the Veterans who are still with us.
I was privileged to attend the services held in both Wodonga and Wangaratta today, to pay tribute to the men and women who served and the sacrifices made.
In Wodonga special tribute was also made today to Mrs Margaret Sutherland who was in attendance with her granddaughter, Nicole McLinden.
Margaret is the first Australian woman to ever receive the United States Air Medal for meritorious service as part of her assignment to the USAF 902 Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron in South Vietnam in 1967.
The Air Medal was presented to Margaret last year by the United States Air Attache at Westmont, Wodonga.
Lest we forget.
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