MILLICENT stopped for one minute of silence to commemorate those who fought and died in conflicts since World War I on Saturday morning.
More than 170 people gathered at the Millicent Cross of Sacrifice to pay tribute to wartime service and sacrifice at the annual Remembrance Day ceremony.
Federal Member for Barker Tony Pasin and State Member for MacKillop Mitch Williams were among the crowd of veterans, schools, service groups and families in attendance.
Millicent Returned and Services League president Chris Mathias told the crowd of the 99th anniversary of the Armistice which ended the First World War.
“At the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month of 1918, the guns fell silent after five years of the bloodiest conflict in history,” he said.
“Laying in the battlefields of Gallipoli, Palestine, France and Belgium were many Australian dead.
“Brave men, who offered their services and their lives to preserve our way of life, to serve our country.
“Remembrance Day is the time for remembering them.”
Mr Mathias detailed the El Alamein battles of World War II, where the Australian Division suffered almost 6000 casualties in the fight to ensure an Allied victory in North Africa.
“In 2017, it is 75 years since soldiers of the 9th Australian Division fought in the battles of El Alamein in the western deserts of Egypt,” he said.
“Soldiers from Millicent were at these battles of El Alamein and today we remember them.
“Australians have served in many theatres of conflict since then and still do to this day.
“Australians have always been quick to stand in defence of our country, our friends and our way of life and we always will.
“With this service comes sacrifice in peace and in war and on this day we remember those who did not come home.”
Mr Mathias was followed by Millicent Catholic Parish Father Dean Marin, who led the Anzac requiem before Wattle Range Mayor Peter Gandolfi spoke about the sacrifice of 27-year-old Maxwell Chapman Boase at the second battle of El Alamein.
Mr Gandolfi’s speech was followed by a reading of The Ode, the Last Post and a minute of silence.
After the one minute silence, the Rouse was sounded and the Australian and United Kingdom flags were raised from half mast to the masthead.
