At the dawn of Remembrance Day 2020, poppies have been projected onto the Sydney Opera House in a special moment of recognition of all those who have died in service to our Nation and lighting the way for commemorative services across NSW.
Acting Minister for Veterans Geoff Lee said the NSW Government has ensured servicemen and servicewomen will still be honoured despite COVID-19 restrictions.
“Poppies are worn on the 11th of November, marking the end of fighting in the First World War in 1918, a victory that cost more than 60,000 Australian lives,” Mr Lee said.
“To see the red poppies covering the sails of the Sydney Opera House while a bugler played the Last Post at dawn was a spine tingling moment.
“It was a strong symbolic reminder of the service and sacrifice made over a century ago which gave us the freedom we enjoy today.”
“Our veterans community did it really tough this year with Anzac Day services being severely affected during the height of the pandemic but Remembrance Day will see more services held across NSW.”
Outdoor services held before the 12th of November for up to 100 people are permitted conditional to the 4sqm rule and a COVID-Safe plan.
An invite-only official Remembrance Day service will be held at the Martin Place Cenotaph in Sydney and live-streamed on the Anzac Memorial and RSL NSW website and Facebook pages.
“For more than a century, Australians have paused on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month to reflect and they will continue to do so, safely, during the pandemic,” Mr Lee said.
“It will always be important to recognise the extreme challenges our nation has overcome thanks to endurance, mateship, sacrifice and courage.”
The next generation benefitted from a special school education pack for Remembrance Day by making paper poppies and reading the poem ‘In Flander’s Fields’, to understand why Australians commemorate our history at war.
