This year was no different at the Cenotaph Memorial out the front of the Mount Isa Civic Centre.

In a speech Mr Hilton said it has to be acknowledged that Australian involvement in the Vietnam war provoked domestic controversy.

“For two reasons – the first that voicing opposition to Australia’s involvement was a democratic right,” he said.

“Brave young men have fought, suffered and died to secure that right.

“Second, that by exercising the right to oppose a war one should nevertheless support and respect those whom the Government sent to fight,”Mr Hilton said.

“My hope is that gatherings like this help in the healing and reconciliation process for the Veterans and fought in Vietnam and indeed Veterans in all conflicts in which our troops have been  part of.”

Australian troops were first sent to Vietnam in 1962 and the number of men increased over a 10 year period to more than 58,000 who served in the conflict before the war ended.

521 men paid the supreme sacrifice whilst on active duty during the war between the years 1962 – 1972.

Vietnam Veterans Day is an opportunity for all Australians to commemorate the battle and service of those men during the war.

LEST WE FORGET 

Timo E.A Pesonen was naturalised in Australia after he arrived with his parents and sister at the tender age of nine in 1959.

He was educated to grade eight and became a diamond driller at the mine.

In March 1969 he volunteered to fight in the war in Vietnam and was posted.

On February 28, 1970, two days after his 21^st birthday Timo was killed in a mine explosion. He is buried at Mount Isa Cemetery.