Harvey and Waroona set to honour those who have served in armed forces in towns’ Remembrance Day services

It is a day which might not get as much recognition as Anzac Day, but it is just as important. Every year on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, people across the region, State and country will pause for a moment of reflection in honour of all who have served. Hundred are set to attend across services being held in the Harvey and Waroona shires on Saturday for the 105th Remembrance Day. Attendees are encouraged to wear a red poppy, which since 1920 has served as a symbol of remembrance. Commemorations in Harvey will be centred on the town’s War Memorial on the corner of Uduc Road and Young Street. The public is asked to arrive at 10.15am in time for the beginning of the ceremony at 10.30am. Harvey RSL president Eric Hall encouraged the community to support the commemoration. “I hope we get a decent crowd and I hope the weather is good,” he said. “It will be good to be supported by the public.” This year’s service is set to be extra special, with Forrest MHR Nola Marino to present Vietnam War veterans with medallions and certificates recognising their service in the conflict five decades on from Australia’s withdrawal. Scott Dandridge will deliver Saturday’s keynote address. After last year’s service was held in the background of the closure of the Waroona-Hamel RSL branch just weeks earlier, this year’s Remembrance Day commemorations in Waroona will be the continuation of the town’s new normal. Waroona’s commemoration is a combined schools and community service organised by the Waroona District High School, St Joseph’s School and the Shire of Waroona. To enable students to continue their role in leading the service, this year’s commemoration in the town will take place a day early on Friday. Waroona Shire president Mike Walmsley is set to again return as the master of ceremonies. He said it was highly important children are incorporated into the service. “I always look forward to seeing them engage with what the meaning is of Remembrance Day,” he said. “You get to learn and respect the day basically as a beacon of something that should never happen again.” Waroona’s commemoration will start at 10.30am, with a minute’s silence to be held at 11am. The day and the time of the minute’s silence marks the moment guns fell silent on the Western Front in 1918 after German forces agreed to an unconditional surrender in World War I. Remembrance Day was initially known as Armistice Day before it was expanded to cover all who have served in conflict.