Heartening to see youngsters on Remembrance Day: Echuca RSL president

By Shannon Colee

Nov 12, 2023

Remembering: Echuca RSL Sub-branch president Denis Shanahan said it was good to see so many young people get involved in Remembrance Day events. Photos: Shannon Colee Photo by Shannon Colee

Echuca RSL Sub-branch president Denis Shanahan said it was heartening to see young people care about Remembrance Day this year.

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As well as young people making up a part of the crowd at the 11am Echuca Remembrance Day service, Mr Shanahan said that there had been many school events earlier in the week.

Solemn: Denis Shanahan spoke at the service about the importance of the day and led everyone through the minute’s silence. Photo by Shannon Colee

He said it was important that the RSL supported young people in their commemoration of these sorts of days.

“You can go to nearly any school and they’re now conducting their own ceremonies a couple of days prior or the day after or something like that,” he said.

“I was at Echuca College (on Friday) and they had a brilliant one there, all done by themselves. We oldies need to back them up because they’re the future of the RSL and the future of the defence force.

Raising the flag: After the minute’s silence, Bob Wark raised the flag. Photo by Shannon Colee

“We’ve got to back them up 100 per cent. Some even came here on a Saturday. When they could have been doing other things, they chose to come here.”

Paying respects: Residents were at Echuca’s war memorial to commemorate those who have fought for Australia. Photo by Shannon Colee

One of the RSL’s longest standing members Bob Wark said it was important to make sure that we continued to use Remembrance Day as a chance to reflect on the people who sacrificed for the country.

“These wars were a long time ago. But when you consider the number of people that volunteered to go across and fight and die, unfortunately it’s got to be remembered,” he said.

By Shannon Colee