Betina Hughes
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THE Muswellbrook community welcomed more than 130 Vietnamese from Wollongong, Springwood and Sydney to the local Vietnamese Veterans Day ceremonies at the weekend.
Muswellbrook RSL Sub-Branch president Greg Cole said the collaboration, which began in 2008, had been growing stronger each passing year.
The 2013 service included the unveiling and dedication of the ARVN Plaque.
“[The Vietnamese] were very excited, it means a lot to them,” Mr Cole said.
“We had a great night at the RSL Club afterwards.”
Mr Cole was very pleased with the event which saw a large crowd gather in remembrance.
“Overall it was a huge success,” he told the Chronicle.
“I’d like to thank everybody; the police for their traffic control, the students, the Catafalque.”
The ceremonies included musical performances from Xuan Quynh, Bao Khanh, and Muswellbrook High School students Jordi Kiarnah Adam-Smith and Emily Bartush.
The South Vietnam national anthem was performed by the visiting Vietnamese choir, who were joined by Miss Adam-Smith for the Australian National Anthem.
In her address to the crowd, guest speaker Dr Elizabeth Huynh said she was very proud of those who sacrificed for the freedom of others.
“As a descendant, it’s important for me to tell younger generations,” she said.
“I’d like to see a free and democratic Vietnam someday; so those who lost their lives did not do so in vain.”
This year, historical books were placed at the memorial, which will be donated to Muswellbrook Regional Library in memory of the fallen and for the benefit of the entire community.