AT the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The annual Vietnam Veterans Memorial Service took place on Saturday, with a special honour devoted to the late Major General JD Keldie.
The ceremony, which is held every year on the anniversary of The Battle of Long Tan, commemorates the losses suffered during the Vietnam War.
The event was organised by the Muswellbrook RSL sub-Branch, who themselves have veterans among them, including president Greg Cole.
Mr Cole explained tradition was important to uphold – and they would always host their ceremony on the day it should be conducted.
“We always hold our service on August 18; and we try to keep much to the time of the battle,” he said.
“We don’t care what day of the week it falls on, we have our service on that day.”
It was not only about remembering Australia’s fallen, but also the south Vietnamese, who had representatives at the commemoration including Father Anthony Nguyen, who led the prayers alongside Father Scott Dulley.
But, one of the main focuses of the day was Major General Keldie, known as “Blue” to his mates, who had a military vehicle named after him.
“Blue’s Bus” was officially unveiled at the Muswellbrook War Memorial.
And, it was a special moment for his son David Keldie, who said it meant a lot to see his dad remembered in that way.
“It’s a great honour,” he stated.
“Not only is this a great monument to the whole regiment and everyone else in Vietnam, but to have ‘Blue’s Bus’ on the side of it is quite a legacy.”
He said his father would be “over the moon” if he knew he was being recognised in such a fashion, but being a military man probably would have walked around and inspected the vehicle first.
Mr Keldie always had a lot of respect for his father, and that only increased the more he learnt about his service.
He said despite his dad struggling to shake the convention of being a military general, he was never one to burden his family by recalling the horrors he witnessed, and seldom spoke about the war at home.
Major General Keldie will be remembered as a hero on the battlefield; and also a hero at home.