Griffith Marks 50th Anniversary of End Of Vietnam War

The 50th anniversary of the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War will be commemorated at a special morning tea hosted by the Griffith RSL Sub-Branch and Griffith City Council.

On Friday, August 18 a national commemorative service is being livestreamed from 10 am in the Burley Griffin Room at the Griffith Regional Theatre.

All veterans of the Australian Defence Force and their families from Griffith and the surrounding towns are invited to attend the morning tea at 9:30 am before the national service.

A short service will also be held at 4 pm at the cenotaph in Memorial Gardens.

Griffith RSL Sub-Branch Secretary/Treasurer Berdene Oxley-Boyd said the morning tea was an opportunity to thank Vietnam veterans for their service, and remember those who did not return.

“We would really like to see local veterans come along for morning tea as a way for us to say thank you,” Ms Oxley-Boyd said. Griffith Mayor, Doug Curran said he was pleased Council could support the commemoration.

“It’s important that we honour these brave men and women and show our appreciation for their service and sacrifice to defend our nation,” Mayor Curran said.

“I don’t believe that recognition was done well 50 years ago so it is important that we do it much better today.”

Attendees are urged to book a free ticket for the morning tea and livestream at: https://events.humanitix.com/national-commemorative-service

Meanwhile, the Griffith RSL Sub-Branch President Michael Borg said they would also be honouring Lance Corporal Peter Edward McDuff, who served with D Company 2nd (ANZAC) Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment during the Vietnam War.

“Lance Corporal McDuff was killed in Nui Dat on September 28, 1967 and is the Griffith region's only veteran to have died in service in Vietnam,” Mr Borg said.

The Griffith RSL will host a memorial service for Lance Corporal McDuff on August 3 at Darlington Point Cemetery at 11am.

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