Honouring the veterans

Vietnam veterans were remembered and commemorated on the 53rd anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan at Narrogin’s Memorial Park last Sunday.

The service was organised by RSL president and Vietnam veteran Ries Chattillon, who was joined by 12 others at the Narrogin War Memorial.

Mr Chattillon, who spent 20 years in the armed forces, said it was a good turnout, but he would love to see more people attend.

“This is probably as big of a crowd as we’ll get,” he said.

“There are a lot of people in this town whose husbands or boyfriends served, but I haven’t seen many here.

“Vietnam was not a popular war but we need to remember it and all of those who lost their lives there.”

Judy McCarthy, a new resident in Narrogin who attended the memorial, said she was there to honour her late husband.

“This was a very intimate and personal Vietnam remembrance ceremony,” she said.

“My husband was there in the 60s and I’m really proud to be here to represent him and the other widows of Vietnam veterans.”