The Cowra RSL sub-Branch will observe National Servicemen's Day on Sunday, February 11 with a ceremony held at 10am at the National Servicemen's Memorial in Squire Park, Cowra.
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Special guest for the service will be the deputy mayor of Cowra, Cr Paul Smith.
All National Servicemen are invited.
National Servicemen's Day is observed to recognise the contributions of National Service to Australia.
Since the Second World War Australia has had two very different National Service schemes.
The first took place from 1951 to 1959. A total of 227 000 men passed through the scheme, which required six months recruit training in the Army, navy or Air Force followed by five years as a reservist.
Few saw action, though some were deployed on naval ships in Korean waters during that war. They were also at the atomic bomb tests at the Monte Bello islands, and in 1956 at Maralinga. RAAF National Servicemen worked on aircraft that had flown through atomic clouds.
The second scheme which took place from 1965 to 1972.
Between 1965 and December 1972 over 800,000 men registered for National Service.
Some 63 000 were conscripted and over 19 000 served in Vietnam and Borneo.
Any further information can be obtained by contacting the Cowra RSL sub-branch Secretary Ken Guihot on (02) 6342 3540.
