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A day to remember those who served

World War 1 soldiers march from Spencer St along Collins St, Melbourne.

Photo: State Library of Victoria THIS year, the world will commemorate 103 years since the guns fell silent on the Western Front in World War 1 (known as the Great War) at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month (11am, November 11) of 1918. On Remembrance Day, Australians remember more than 102,000 countrymen and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country in war, conflicts, on operations and in training. Remembrance Day was originally known as Armistice Day; a day to remember those killed in the Great War. After World War 2, it was changed to Remembrance Day to commemorate those killed in both world wars. In 1997, a proclamation was issued declaring November 11 as a day to remember all those who have died in wars and conflicts. This year commemorates a number of significant campaigns and operations in which Australians fought and died, including 30 years since the start of Operation Desert Storm to free Kuwait from the Iraqi invasion in January 1991; 70 years since the Battle of Kapyong in Korea on April 23, 1951; 80 years since recruiting began for the Torres Strait Light Infantry Battalion in May 1941 — the only Indigenous Australian battalion formed in the Australian Army (which had 36 members die during active service during World War 2); 55 years since the Battle of Long Tan in South Vietnam on August 18, 1966; 80 years since the Battle of Crete in May 1941 in which 646 Australians and more than 8000 Greek civilians died; and 20 years since Australian forces were committed to the war in Afghanistan in November 2001 (where 41 Australians were killed, and 261 wounded between 2001 and 2014 — sadly many more have since taken their own lives after returning from their service). Lest We Forget.

To remember all those who served (and their families), Sale RSL will facilitate the annual Sale Remembrance Day service at the Sale Cenotaph in Macalister St this Thursday from 10.45am. All are welcome.

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Buy a poppy to support veterans

SALE RSL and Community Sub-Branch is asking the local community to dig deep this Remembrance Day to donate to its annual Poppy Appeal. President Marty Tanzer said the RSL’s volunteers, supported by Australian Defence Force volunteers, would sell poppies at two sites in Sale during November — in Gippsland Centre, Sale, and in front of the RACV store in Raymond St. “We need your help now, more than ever,” he said. “If you can buy a poppy locally or are able to donate via poppyappeal.com.au, it can help change a veterans’ life. “Every little bit counts.” The RSL’s Poppy Appeal is an annual fundraising activity that sub-branches across the nation take on in the lead up to Remembrance Day each year. Every dollar raised through the Poppy Appeal goes to supporting veterans and their families with a range of health and wellbeing support services, including relief from financial hardship.

Every dollar raised through the Poppy Appeal goes to supporting veterans and their families with a range of health and wellbeing support services, including relief from financial hardship.

Donations to the Sale RSL Sub-Branch Poppy Appeal can also be made by buying a commemorative poppy at the Toys Galore and More store in Raymond St, The Genny on Guthridge, Sale RSL and Sale Dimmeys store.