Remembrance Day: Hundreds of West Aussies gather at Kings Park to honour the fallen
Hundreds of West Australians, including current and former servicemen and women, gathered in Kings Park to mark Remembrance Day.
This solemn ceremony was one of many held across the country to commemorate the 107th anniversary of the fall of the guns on the Western Front in November 1918.
A stunning sea of thousands of hand-knitted red poppies has covered the State War Memorial overlooking the city of Perth, each representing a life lost in war.
“Today we commemorate not only the sacrifice of Australians in the Great War, but also their sacrifice in all the wars and conflicts in the life of our Nation,” RSL WA chief executive Stephen Barton said.
“Australia is a young country, yet our liberal democracy is one of the oldest democracies in the world.
“This shows that it is rare and fragile; today reminds us of the price of protecting it.”
WA Governor Chris Dawson, Premier Roger Cook, Opposition Leader Basil Zemplias and City of Perth Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds were among the dignitaries in attendance.
An RAAF jet passing over marked the start of the trial.
The Prayer of Remembrance was followed by a wreath-laying ceremony and participants bowed their heads for a moment of silence before the Last Message echoed through the park.
Mr Barton said the ceremony was about recognizing not only Australian service personnel who were unable to return home from war, but also our allies.
“Australia has never fought alone,” he said.
“We have made the causes of our Commonwealth relatives and allies our own, as they have made ours; we remember their sacrifices.”
Army veteran Christopher Perry was among the countless veterans who took the time to pay their respects.
“We cannot forget their sacrifice or risk history repeating itself,” Mr. Perry said.
“My great-grandfather and grandfather served in the military, and I grew up hearing stories about what happened during the war.
“Today is my way of honoring them, but it reminds me that our freedom and the life we have are precious and come at a great cost to so many.”
After retiring almost 12 years ago, Mr. Perry said he always made sure his calendar was open on Memorial Day.
“It’s a struggle when you come back home and adjust to normal life, so being here around people who know what it’s like is healing for me,” she said.
“You also get to see the entire population, which gives you a sense of what the service is all about and what it means to the country.”
