Garden to remember Vietnam veterans

THE Lal Lal community will gather this Sunday to celebrate the opening of a garden at ANZAC Memorial Park.

The event, which will begin at 11am, coincides with Vietnam Veterans Day.

The extension was created by the Lal Lal Landcare Group with funding from the federal government.

“We’ve worked a year down at the ANZAC Park at Lal Lal putting in a memorial garden and getting a memorial park,” said Sue Witherspoon, president of the Lal Lal Landcare Catchment Group.

The project involved landscaping of the area, planting native trees and groundcover, and adding a plaque on black granite.

The unveiling of the plaque and garden will be followed by a community barbecue.

Ms Witherspoon said she was inspired to create a place where people can acknowledge Vietnam veterans.

“My husband and I are both ex-military and we have lots of friends who are Vietnam veterans,” she said.

“When this funding came up last year, I put it to the group that we create the garden and have somewhere to honour them.

“I hope we can reflect on all our service men and women, and it gives us all an area to acknowledge that out Vietnam veterans actually gave up a lot and are still giving a lot.”