fed: Veterans of forgotten Korean conflict lead parade

AAP General News (Australia)
04-25-2000
fed: Veterans of forgotten Korean conflict lead parade

CANBERRA, April 25 AAP - Veterans of Australia's forgotten war in Korea half-a-century
ago today took centre stage for the second time in a week to lead the traditional Anzac
parade.

Soldiers, sailors and airmen who served in the 1950-53 Korean conflict headed Canberra's march.

The larger than usual contingent of Korea veterans had remained in Canberra following
the inauguration of the Korean war memorial last Tuesday.

They led a large group of veterans of other conflicts to the traditional service at
the Australian War Memorial.

With them at the front was retired General Sir Francis Hassett, who commanded the Australian
battalion in Korea and later went on to command the Australian Defence Force.

Beneath cloudless skies in glorious autumn weather, an estimated 10,000 onlookers gathered
on the march route and at the memorial to cheer and clap. A RAAF F-111 concluded the event
with a noisy fly-past.

Former RSL national president Major General Digger James, now president of the Australian
War Memorial Council, said Anzac Day was a day to honour all who served in war and all
who stayed behind.

He said the first Anzacs were the flowers of a generation.

"They died for this our country, our country Australia, so that we might live in peace,
grow and prosper," Major-General James said.

"They were young, they were full of live and they were imbued with righting the great
wrongs of the time. Their example set that day has coloured our world indelibly.

Anzac day activities in Canberra started out with the traditional dawn service, with
several thousand gathering outside the war memorial, well rugged against the brisk three
degree morning.

RAAF Chaplain Air Commodore Bill Fuller, who delivered the address, said the qualities
shown by the original Anzacs should be the creed Australians lived by.

"The greatest tribute we can give to those men and women who have given their lives
in the service of this land is to make it a living memory," he said.

"Living in the sense that every Australian tries to emulate in their lives those principles
of courage, of sacrifice, of care and of giving that are shown by our own Australian men
and women over so many years since that first Gallipoli.

"We ... give thanks by the way in which we live."

AAP mb/was

KEYWORD: ANZAC ACT NIGHTLEAD

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