ACROSS Port Macquarie-Hastings today, April 25, residents will stand on their driveways, some lit by candlelight, others bowing their heads to the sounds of The Last Post, to honour all those who came before us and fought for our freedom.
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Today, Anzac Day across the region will not be the same, but we will all be united in remembering their sacrifice and honouring their bravery.
We asked: Who will you stand for?
Here are some of those stories.
LEST WE FORGET.
FAITH BELL
I'll be standing in my driveway at dawn on Saturday listening to the dawn service in memory of my late dad, Herbert Alexander Bishop, who was a Boer War veteran with Australian 1st horse then he fought at Gallipoli and also France before being discharged after being shot by shell fire six times.
My mum was his third wife as the previous two wives pre-deceased him.
His first wife was his nurse who came back to Australia from England to marry dad when he was medically discharged but died in childbirth. Dad buried my little half brother.
When dad married mum they had three daughters, myself being the oldest, but the middle baby was stillborn, so he had buried two babies in his lifetime. Dad was 74 when I was born.
He passed away in 1967 when I was 13 years old.
I march with dad's war medals on Anzac Day each year.
JOHN AYRES
I will be remembering my father, William John Ayres who served in the Australian Army in New Guinea during the second World War, by lighting a candle and standing on our balcony for the dawn service.
JIM MCCLELLAN
My grandfather, James Huxtable, (second from left), embarked to the Middle East with H Company, Fourth Battalion, from Sydney on October 20, 1914, as Acting Corporal.
Disembarking at Alexandria and to camp in Heliopolis, Egypt on 9 December 1914.
Saw operations in Gallipoli from 25th of April 1915, D Company and was wounded in action early in June and evacuated. Subsequent operations in France and Flanders.
Discharged on 21 May 1919 suffering with tuberculosis.
Returned to Sydney and died on 15 September 1924 aged 32 years, leaving a wife and two toddlers.
KATHRYN BUTLER
My great uncle Norman John Dulhunty, fought in Gallipoli but killed in France 1918 at just 26 years old. We will remember them.
NATHAN BURKE
Fg Off William 'Bill' Burke (RAF) WWII (dec) - My grandfather was fortunate to be granted a field commission after his plane was responsible for spotting a German convoy that ultimately resulted in many Axis vessels being sunk. He was also fortunate to retire from the Royal Air Force at the end of the war. Living a long life that saw a further 6 children born and 26 grand children.
For the past 28 years, I've been privileged to be able to honour my grandfather's mates in playing the Last Post and Reveille at over 100 ANZAC, Remembrance, and Ex-Service Day services, culminating in Pop's funeral several years ago.
Tomorrow, I remember you, Pop, the sacrifices you made, and the family you created.
BEC FARRELL
My gallant great grand uncle Raymond, killed in action in Gallipoli, at just 18 years old. Never forgotten.
Where can you honour the fallen?
St Agnes' Catholic Church will sound The Last Post via loudspeaker across Port Macquarie at 7am, 11am and 5pm on Saturday, April 25.
Buglers from the Port Macquarie Municipal Band will also be playing in locations around the region and visiting RSL Life Care centres as a mark of respect and to honour residents who are ex-servicemen and women.
People can leave wreaths at the Port Macquarie cenotaph but are asked to move on and not gather in the Town Square.
All Port Macquarie-Hastings residents are encouraged to mark the Anzac tradition by lighting candles at the end of their driveway or staging neighbourhood vigils as the sun rises on Saturday morning.
Share your photos with us
We want to capture how you have commemorated Anzac Day 2020.
Send your photos and video to tracey.fairhurst@austcommunitymedia.com.au on Saturday morning and we will include them in our online coverage.
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