A sizeable contingent of returned soldiers, family and friends gathered at the Lakes Entrance Cenotaph on Vietnam Veterans Day last Thursday. 
The simple traditional service themed care giving and mateship and had a distinctly local flavour.
Lakes Entrance RSL Branch secretary and master of ceremonies, Tony Webb, conducted the service. President Geoff Turner's opening words acknowledged the substantial contribution of his comrades. He listed the long litany of battles and assignments they undertook.
Prayers followed with Jill Douglas reciting A Prayer for the Fallen and Mick Collins leading the Lord's Prayer.
Lake Bunga resident and guest speaker, Retired Captain Penny Wigg, Royal Australian Army Nursing Corp, in a thoroughly researched well-documented presentation told the nurse's story. It was a tale of young women, mostly volunteers, unskilled in the treatment of the casualties of war who hit the ground running the moment they stepped off the tarmac at Vuang Tau medical military base.

IMAGE: Lakes Entrance’s local Vietnam veterans stand together at last Thursday’s Vietnam Veterans Day service at the Lakes Entrance Cenotaph.