THURSDAY was Vietnam Veterans’ Day and with 50 years since the final withdrawal from Vietnam, commemorations were held at the memorial on Lonsdale Street.

Hamilton RSL president, Danny Bland, said the day marked the 56th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan and the service honoured “the nearly 60,000 Australians who served during the Vietnam War, of which 521 were killed and over 3000 wounded”.

Mr Bland’s wife, Belle, who served in the Navy herself, spoke at the service about her father’s own experience as a soldier in Vietnam and how he dealt with the after-effects with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

“With the understanding we have now regarding mental health, I know that my dad, as with so many others who came home, was suffering with undiagnosed PTSD,” she said.

“If you have a Vietnam vet in your life, love them fiercely. They have seen and experienced things that many of us could never imagine.

“If you are a Vietnam vet - there are people who are so very glad you came home. It is ok to seek help and please continue to be a voice for change in how we deal with PTSD and mental health for returned servicemen and women today.”