HONIARA businessman Sir Bruce Saunders recently visited the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
Each day, one of the 102,000 Australian servicemen is honored at the Australian War Memorial.
These daily commemoration ceremonies include a piper playing a lament, wreath laying and recollection of the service of the serviceman.
Sir Bruce met with the Curator, Brendan Nelson who arranged for him to lay a wreath to honour the Solomon Scouts and Coastwatchers.
Matt Anderson, a previous Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, was in attendance at the wreath laying.
This was the first time a wreath had been laid at the Australian War Memorial in honour of the Solomon Island scouts contribution and assistance to the allied troops during World War II.
Sir Bruce said:
“The atmosphere is one of great respect, reverence and dignity which makes one feel very humble in such an environment.
“When the last post in played to end the service it is quite an emotional moment”.
Sir Bruce encourages young people “to be proud of what your OLOS have done for this country –be proud and caring for it – to appreciate that the freedom that Pacific nations now enjoy was won because of their efforts”.
Sir Bruce also took the opportunity to speak to the Chairman of the Returned Service League (RSL) Association Rear Admiral Jen Doolan of the Royal Australian Navy for possible support to develop a World War II Memorial Museum in Honiara.
