IT was the war the nation shunned, but yesterday Warwick remembered our Vietnam veterans.

Locals turned out to the cenotaph in Leslie Park for Vietnam Veterans’ Day, to pay tribute to those who fought in the war which ended in 1975.

Originally called Long Tan Day after one of the war’s most famous battles, the name was changed to recognise the many troops who fought in the numerous battles.

Veterans’ Support and Advocacy Service Australia (VSASA) president John Palmer said it was as important as ever to commemorate the day.

“It’s been a long time since the Vietnam War,” Mr Palmer said.

In fact yesterday marked 45 years since the Battle of Long Tan took place and Mr Palmer said it was important to keep the memory alive.

He said it was evident from recent events, including the spray paint being used to graffiti the cenotaph, younger generations were not aware of what was experienced in not only Vietnam, but other wars.

“The younger generation need to realise what everyone went through so they could be the younger generation,” he said.

“It’s a chance for all of our veterans to get together and see we still remember those who paid the supreme sacrifice.”

Mr Palmer said he would like to see more people attend services to show they had not forgotten the legacy of the Vietnam veterans and he hoped future generations would continue the tradition.

Steve Mackie gave the Vietnam Veterans Day Address, telling the crowd of his own harrowing experiences.

He said he joined up because his father had served in World War II but he had no idea what lay ahead of him.

He described the hardship of returning to a country where protesters threw red paint on the soldiers and burnt the Australian flag – but praised the returned troops for conducting themselves with dignity.

“Not one man broke ranks,” he said. “We, the veterans, saw only pride and honour in our country.”

Despite the solemness of the occasion Mr Mackie lightened the mood for a few moments when he described first arriving in the camp in a rubber plantation.

When machine-gun and small-arms fire broke out, he and his mates ducked for cover, jumping into storm drains and hiding behind vehicles. They later found out it was just their fellow troops practising.

Mr Mackie also praised the efforts of the Salvation Army and other unrecognised heroes who put themselves in the line of fire in order to give medical aid to injured troops.