Dubbo Photo News

Memories of a soldier

By GREG WARREN, NSW SHADOW MINISTER FOR VETERANS AFFAIRS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND WESTERN SYDNEY

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ANZAC DAY 2020 will be etched in our memories forever.

It truly was an April 25 like no other.

The plethora of people who usually descended on marches and services at dawn were nowhere to be seen.

Instead they were ordered to remain in the confines of their homes.

The lighting of a candle on the doorstep was the only show of respect for our fallen that we were able to offer.

But 12 months on and we are slowly returning to a sense of normality.

While there will be certain restrictio­ns placed on Anzac Day services and marches this year, many of us will at least be able to leave our house and pay our respects by attending a march or service.

The importance of a large crowd at services on April 25 should never be understate­d.

It is imperative as a nation that we both preserve and promote the stories of our brave Defence Force personnel.

That starts by encouragin­g younger generation­s to attend marches and services every year.

It continues by having those same people bring their children and their grandchild­ren along.

The goal should be to make sure that the tradition is so deeply etched into our nation’s fabric that nothing – not even a year like 2020 – can compromise the tradition.

We all know words of The Ode: They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old, age shall not weary them nor the years condemn, at the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.

We will and we must remember them.

Take a minute to think about what our nation would look like today without the efforts of those brave men and women who served in various conflicts and wars.

Waking once before dawn every year and taking a moment every now and then to remember those Defence Force personnel is not a sacrifice.

Heading into conflict and not knowing whether you will ever see the faces of your friends and family again – that’s a real and genuine sacrifice.

Let’s make April 25, 2021 like April 25, 2020 – a day that we will never forget.

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 ?? PHOTOS: SUPPLIED ?? Campbellto­wn MP Greg Warren attended St Johns College in Dubbo before joining the Australian Army. He’s currently the NSW Shadow minister for Veterans Affairs, Local Government and Western Sydney.
PHOTOS: SUPPLIED Campbellto­wn MP Greg Warren attended St Johns College in Dubbo before joining the Australian Army. He’s currently the NSW Shadow minister for Veterans Affairs, Local Government and Western Sydney.

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