Day of memories

By Nicole Williams
WAR veterans around Australia will gather on Monday to commemorate people who gave their lives during military operations.
Three of these veterans from Dandenong RSL will be among them. They are Michael Petnaude, a Vietnam veteran, John Wood who was stationed in Papua New Guinea during World War II, and Dandenong-Cranbourne RSL president Alan Harper who served in Malaya, Germany and Korea. A forth member, Dandenong-Cranbourne RSL vice-president John Laughton, who is a Korean War veteran, will be in South Korea during the march.
Dandenong RSL aged care and community coordinator John Filmer said the RSL was proud to have men like that involved in the league.
“These men all have the one thing in common – they were prepared to put their lives at risk to fight for their country,” Mr Filmer said.
As veterans all over the country prepare to commemorate their fallen comrades on Anzac Day, Mr Laughton will be one of 212 veterans in South Korea for the day of remembrance.
The trip is courtesy of the South Korean Government and will coincide with the 60th anniversary of a battle in Korea. “I will also be there for the dawn service on Monday so it will be very traditional,” Mr Laughton said.
Thirty-four Australian veterans will be joined by their families and veterans from Britain, Canada and New Zealand for the trip to South Korea.
Mr Laughton was a navy man based in Japan and patrolled the waters around Korea during the war.
He admitted the trip was likely to be very emotional, but more so for veterans who were on the ground.
“More for the people who lost people there,” he said. “We were on a carrier so it was a bit different,” he said.
The veterans left on Tuesday for the trip and will tour South Korea to visit areas of significance to the war and will also go to the North Korean border.