The following formal submission have been made public
Submitter: Jennifer KellyAnzac Hall and Glazed Link
To Whom It May Concern
It is of great importance that we do not fail to recognise all Veterans for this new project. including all those who have served up to the present day.
Huge mistakes have been made in the past with regard to Vietnam War Veterans and their honouring - not due to any fault of the veterans themselves but to the collective shame of decision makers and who lost a war. This was added to by the rage of protesters who, in their misguided wisdom saw our veterans as complicit- not the conscripts so many were. The ADF are defenders under all circumstances - decided by government and their advisors of the day. To desert them as we did remains to our collective shame. Only now, but almost too late are we making some effort to bring them into the fold.
I talk about Vietnam because I can see the same situation developing with regard to the newer campaigns. Iraq, Syria and as of now another shameful failure- Afghanistan. A failure, not on the part of our soldiers, but the leaders who sent them in, and who in the end did not honour their sacrifice and effort fighting an elusive and merciless enemy. An enemy whose motivation went far beyond anything to be truely understood, being based on religious fanaticism.
Honour these veterans now, as we should. It is obvious. As an Australian citizen born at the beginning of the Second World War I cannot believe the slow moving decision making that takes place. Even if time is required to finalise the addition of space for the later campaigns, leave room for it. Make sure we don’t have to wait another 50 to 60 years to make a start.
Please consider my submission
Jennifer KELLY.
It is of great importance that we do not fail to recognise all Veterans for this new project. including all those who have served up to the present day.
Huge mistakes have been made in the past with regard to Vietnam War Veterans and their honouring - not due to any fault of the veterans themselves but to the collective shame of decision makers and who lost a war. This was added to by the rage of protesters who, in their misguided wisdom saw our veterans as complicit- not the conscripts so many were. The ADF are defenders under all circumstances - decided by government and their advisors of the day. To desert them as we did remains to our collective shame. Only now, but almost too late are we making some effort to bring them into the fold.
I talk about Vietnam because I can see the same situation developing with regard to the newer campaigns. Iraq, Syria and as of now another shameful failure- Afghanistan. A failure, not on the part of our soldiers, but the leaders who sent them in, and who in the end did not honour their sacrifice and effort fighting an elusive and merciless enemy. An enemy whose motivation went far beyond anything to be truely understood, being based on religious fanaticism.
Honour these veterans now, as we should. It is obvious. As an Australian citizen born at the beginning of the Second World War I cannot believe the slow moving decision making that takes place. Even if time is required to finalise the addition of space for the later campaigns, leave room for it. Make sure we don’t have to wait another 50 to 60 years to make a start.
Please consider my submission
Jennifer KELLY.