Those were the words of Glen White, retired Warrant Officer Class 2, as he looked over the hundreds gathered in the rain to commemorate Anzac Day in Forbes on Tuesday.

WO White, who calls Forbes his home town, served with the Australian Defence Force from 1987 to 2014.

He was deployed to Malaysia, East Timor, Sinai Egypt, Cambodia and Iraq. 

Following is the rest of his address at the morning service. 

“These events are deemed great not because of what they achieved, nor for whether they were victories or successes. Great events are distinguished by the quality of human endeavour and by the legends they inspire.

So it is with Anzac Day.

There is something very Australian in coming together for such a cause, as we have over recent years with numerous natural disasters.

Our natural disposition is to stick together in adversity and support each other. I like to think this flows from the deepest springs of our national character, a character that was forged by the Anzacs, and a belief that happiness is the right of all people in this country.

For younger generations, it is sometimes difficult to understand why it is with gratitude that we should remember, but we have enjoyed the benefits of peace and easy existence now for some time.

Few of us have ever had to risk everything ourselves, or chance our loved ones to the dangers of war.

For older generations of Australians, remembering such things is easier. War and death came far too frequently into their lives, as in the past, the men and women of our armed forces saw service in places such as Borneo, Korea, Malaya, the middle East, New Guinea, Palestine, Turkey and Vietnam.

Today, a new generation of our armed forces is serving in troubled locations including Afghanistan, Timor-Leste, Egypt, Iraq, the Middle East and Sudan.

It is now a long-standing tradition that on this day, Anzac Day, we all pause to remember.

This tradition is as relevant today as it was when our troops landed on the beaches of Galliopoli in 1915. We only have to recall those Australians that have died or been injured in recent years on operations and within Australia to protect Australia and its national interests.

Future generations need to be reminded that happiness has a price and that this is why we pause and remember those that have offered up their life in the defence of their nation and community; this is the greatest contribution any citizen can make.

In doing so, we will keep bright the memory of these lives and ensure that the word Anzac and that Anzac spirit always remains a very important part of Australian life. 

More images from this morning’s march here.