At 11:00am at the Lismore Lawn Cemetery, local Vietnam Veterans, families and friends of those killed in action heard the last post and remembered their mates and loved ones or paid their respects with a minute's silence.

August marks 60 years since the arrival of the 1st Australian Army Training Team in South Vietnam and 50 years since the withdrawal of combat troops.

Of the 523 Australian soldiers who died in Vietnam, seven young soldiers were from the Northern Rivers, and four from Lismore paid the ultimate price for serving their country in a war where there was a combination of volunteers and drafted soldiers.

• Glen Bartholomew: 1 Field Sqn Royal Australian Engineers (Lismore)     
• Graeme Moss: 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (Lismore)                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
• Desmond Tully: 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (Lismore)                                                                                                                                                                                                            
• Kevin, Troy: Australian Army Training Team (Lismore)                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
• John Garrett: 1 Field Sqn, Royal Australian Engineers (Ballina)                                                                                    
• Geoffrey O'Shea: 1 Sqn, Special Air Service Regiment (Mullumbimby)
• Newstead, Graham William: 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment ( Tweed Heads Memorial Garden& Crematorium)   

Reverand Major Retired Graeme Davis led the commemoration service with a strong contingent of Vietnam Veterans, some, like Ken Jolley, having a close connection to those that died on the battlefields of Vietnam.

Ken was a pallbearer for Glen Bartholomew.

"I didn't know Glen before Vietnam, we met over there. I came home, and he got killed, and his mum and dad asked me to be a pallbearer. It was the first military funeral in Lismore."

It's never easy for veterans on days like today when they remember not only their mates but also reflect on their time in the jungles of Vietnam. The emotions come to the surface very easily as the memories come flooding back.

"Bloody mixed emotions, sad but proud too," Ken said, "I'm very proud to have served."

Reverand Graem Davis added, "Every soldier has got a story, and you can't walk in anyone else's boots."

"No one is more important than the other, and when you look around, it's like a great book of stories. You know particular stories from different people and others you don't know, but they're all important and special to that person."

Two other people shared their stories about Glen Bartholomew.

Arnold Bartholomew is Glen's brother, and Judith Evans's husband Anthony was with him when he was killed as part of the Royal Australian Engineers.

"Exactly the same batallion, First Field Squadron, Royal Australian Engineers at Nui Dat," Judith explained, "Both Glen and Anthony were "Natio's", men who served the compulsory two years in the Australian armed forces."

Glen and Anthony did a year of training before going to Vietnam to work as engineers, laying mines and being part of the tunnel rats. The difference between the two was Glen was given a choice while Anthony was told he was going.

"I think it was out of loyalty to his mates and fellow soldiers that he went," said Anthony.

Judith added, "It was either you were told from above that you were going or you volunteered, one or the other."

Glen arrived in September 1966 and was killed eight months later, in May 1967.

"This is a very special day. It's brought back a lot of memories," Anthony said.

"You sort of get on with life, and particularly seeing the young soldiers here made it real. The effort that's been made by Graham and the Vietnam Vets has been a great comfort, to put simply."

"It's wonderful for them to be recognised for what they did," Judith added.

The final words from today's commemoration go to Reverend Graeme Davis:

"Today's anniversary should be a stark reminder, not only to Vietnam veterans, but all people of goodwill, that war, any war, will come at a human cost. We are each reminded of the pain, performance, the grief and the sadness built by the families and friends and loved ones of those young men who gave their all.

"Just Imagine for a moment, what they might have done and achieved had they have been able to return home to a civilian profession. We recall that their sacrifice is no less than the same spirit of our original ANZACs."

"Australia honours each and every one of you and honours your service. No more will you be asked to buy me Saigon tea. Your duty done and we thank you."