LEST WE FORGET
VIETNAM veteran Alan Buckingham walks with an aid but there was no way that was going to stop him attending Remembrance Day commemorations at The Strand on Saturday.
“I’ve come here every year since I’ve been in Townsville, and that’s been 15 years,” he said.
“I like talking to the other veterans to see how they’re going and we like to hold each other up and pretend we’re all heroes.”
Hundreds packed Anzac Park on Saturday for the 10.45am service with a poignant minute of silence at 11am, a tradition on the 11th day of the 11th month.
Two more services were held at Thuringowa and Magnetic Island.
Mr Buckingham served two tours of Vietnam in 1966- 67 and 1969- 70.
He lost a lot of friends and was himself injured in his first tour.
“I was probably a bit fortunate I wasn’t infantry. I was in the armoured personnel carriers delivering the troops to where they needed to be,” he said.
“A mine blew up the vehicle in front of me and an M16 was let go by one of the wounded and I just happened to be at the wrong angle for it to get me in the shoulder.
“But I didn’t get touched the second tour, which was good.”
Mr Buckingham said it always warmed his heart to see so many children at the services.
“I think it’s important children are here to see what’s going on so they find out what the wars are about and hopefully it will stop them from starting one themselves when they get old enough,” he said.
Commander 3rd Brigade Brigadier Chris Field was the guest speaker at the service. He said while 2017 marked the 99th anniversary of the Armistice that ended World War I ( 1914- 18), Remembrance Day itself honoured all those who suffered in all wars and armed conflicts.
“The greater achievement of the Australian Imperial Force was for our citizens to know themselves as Australians,” he said.
“It is in disaster that the human character is clearly exhibited. Despite the tragedy and broken lives of World War I, Australians at the time watched the name of their country rise in the high esteem of the world’s oldest and greatest nations.
“Today, every Australian bears that name proudly and only by the daily doing great and small, the Australian nation has come to know itself.” Saturday also marked 24 years since the interment of the unknown Australian soldier at the Australian Memorial. War