Australian Army veteran Adrian Bucci has spoken about the importance of tolerance, during a speech at the September 11 commemorative service in Port Macquarie.
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During the speech at the Port Macquarie cenotaph on September 11, Major Bucci said his experiences of fighting in Afghanistan were extreme.
"The war is a constant reminder of how intolerance is intolerable in society," he said.
"I went to war to fight intolerance, to fight a fundamentalist group who happened to be religious. Their whole objective to sow division and fear.
"I think the more we acknowledge people different to ourselves in the street, that is the way to winning the war on terror.
"As long as we love our neighbour as we would want to be loved, that's how we win the war."
Port Macquarie RSL Sub-branch president Greg Laird and chaplain Carl Moses also spoke to a gathering of about 40 veterans, NSW Police officers and families at the ceremony.
Members of the public laid wreaths at the event.
The annual ceremony commemorates the civilian deaths from the September 11 attacks in 2001 and the sacrifices made by Australian soldiers when they were called to war in the Middle East.
Mr Bucci said the wounds from the war are still raw for younger veterans and many still need more time to adjust before attending similar services.
"To see the older veterans here supporting us is great," he said.
"The wounds are quite raw and it takes some time."
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