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Honouring Vietnam veterans' service, sacrifice, legacy and ongoing contribution on Vietnam Veterans Day, 18 August 2025Australia honours Vietnam Veterans Day, reflecting on 60,000 who served, over 500 lost, 3,000 wounded, and their enduring legacy through courage, resilience, and ongoing support services like Open Arms. By news@gippsland - 18th August 2025 - Back to News Australia pauses today to honour the service, sacrifice, and enduring legacy of the more than 60,000 Australians who served during the Vietnam War. Observed annually on 18 August, Vietnam Veterans Day holds deep significance; it marks the anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan in 1966, one of the most well-known Australian engagements of the war. 
Observed on 18 August, Vietnam Veterans Day honours the Battle of Long Tan, where 108 Australians bravely faced over 2,000 enemy troops. Picture credit to Australian War Memorial Honouring their sacrificeOn that day, 108 men from D Company, 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, faced a force of more than 2,000 in a rubber plantation near Long Tan. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the Australian soldiers held their ground in a remarkable display of courage and resilience. Eighteen Australians lost their lives and 24 were wounded - the largest single-day loss for Australian forces during the conflict. Between 1962 and 1973, approximately 60,000 Australian personnel served in the Vietnam War. Tragically, more than 500 Australians died and more than 3,000 were wounded. The war was Australia's longest military engagement of the 20th century at that time. Vietnam veterans legacyToday is a time for all Australians to reflect on the service of Vietnam veterans and to acknowledge the challenges many faced upon returning home. We pay tribute not only to those who made the ultimate sacrifice, but also to their families, those who returned home to a divided country and, in many cases, were not afforded the respect they deserved. Their strength, dignity, and ongoing contribution to our society remind us of the importance of honouring all who serve our nation in uniform. We also pay tribute to the instrumental role Vietnam veterans played in establishing the Vietnam Veterans' Counselling Service, now known as Open Arms. This service has been providing mental health and support services for Australian veterans and their families since 1982 and is their enduring legacy. All Vietnam War veterans can take immense pride in knowing that Open Arms has supported hundreds of thousands of veterans and their families, making a life-changing difference to many lives. Commemorative services will be held across the country, including at the Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial in Canberra, where Australians will unite to remember and honour those who served. Lest We Forget. Pictures from Darren Chester MP website.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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