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The
service and sacrifice of Vietnam veterans was honoured and remembered
at a special reception hosted by Melbourne Lord Mayor John So
this evening which was attended by the Minister for Veterans'
Affairs Bruce Billson. The Department of Veterans' Affairs provided
funding through the Saluting Their Service grants program to support
the event at Melbourne Town Hall, which was attended by more than
100 people including many Vietnam veterans and members of their
families. Mr
Billson said it was important that we continue to honour our Vietnam
veterans, particularly in this significant year commemorating
the 40th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan, Australia's most
well known engagement of the Vietnam War.
"The Long Tan
name has become synonymous with honouring the service and sacrifice
of all Australians during the Vietnam War. About 60,000 Australians
served in Vietnam during the Vietnam War and about 40 per cent
of those were national servicemen," he said. "The
courage and spirit shown by Australian forces at Long Tan and
during our other engagements of the Vietnam War, has been drawn
on often during subsequent years by our veterans as they deal
with the aftermath of this country's longest and most controversial
military conflict," Mr Billson said.
"Many Vietnam
veterans were treated extremely poorly on their return from
the Vietnam War and receptions such as this provide important
opportunities for communities to honour, remember and thank
all those who did what their country asked of them." The
Australian Government committed $4.5 million to commemorate
Australian service in Vietnam and the 40th anniversary of the
Battle of Long Tan.
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