11 November 2020
Four nations were represented when wreaths were laid during the Remembrance Day commemorative service held at sea on the flight deck of HMAS Adelaide.
Remembrance Day is commemorated annually on November 11, which is the day World War I ended in 1918. The guns fell silent at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month.
Australia was represented in the Adelaide service when wreaths were laid by Commanding Officer HMAS Adelaide Captain Jonathan Ley and Army and Air Force representatives.
The international wreath-layers came from the Royal New Zealand Navy, the United States and the United Kingdom.
During his commemorative address, Captain Ley highlighted the diversity of those in attendance.
“As we stand on the flight deck of HMAS Adelaide, members of the three services who come from all corners of our Great Southern Land, and with heritage from all corners of the world, are represented,” he said.
He said what united the gathering of men and women of varying ages, races and creeds was their service.
Captain Ley said Remembrance Day did not glorify or celebrate conflict or suffering, but was about paying respects to, and remembering, all those who have served.
“We especially remember all those who made the ultimate sacrifice, or those who were injured in the service of their country,” he said.
Chaplain Simote Finau said it was important to honour the memory of those who died as their sacrifice had allowed the nation to live in freedom and peace.
“Let us dedicate ourselves to serve others as faithfully as those who have gone before us,” Chaplain Finau said.
Adelaide is returning to her home port of Sydney after more than three weeks off the coast of Queensland conducting amphibious and other training.
She currently is the Navy’s high-readiness vessel, available to support humanitarian and disaster relief operations domestically and in the region.
