ONE hundred and two students, from around Australia, laid poppies symbolising the more than 102,000 Australian servicemen and women who have died in war at the Remembrance Day National Ceremony this morning.
In perfect spring sunshine, nearly 4000 Canberrans attended the ceremony at the Australian War Memorial this morning, observing the minute’s silence, in memory of those who have died or suffered for Australia’s cause in all wars and armed conflicts.
The ceremony marks the end of World War I when, at 11 am on November 11, 1918, the guns of the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of continuous warfare.
The Governor-General Quentin Bryce and Prime Minister Julia Gillard joined veterans and serving members of the Defence Force at the memorial to lay wreaths, along with the diplomatic corps – on behalf of the citizens of their countries.
Chief of the Defence Force, Gen David Hurley, gave the the commemorative address.
The National Ceremony followed a private unveiling of additions to the Roll of Honour, attended by the families of those servicemen who lost their lives in Afghanistan over the past 12 months. Nine new names were added to the Afghanistan panel of the Roll.
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