The Returned and Services League of Australia, Washington, DC

Invitation to the Battle of Long Tan Commemoration Ceremony 18 August, 2012 10:15 A.M. Near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial* Constitution Avenue and Henry Bacon Dr. NW Washington, DC The simple, solemn, ceremony is being kept deliberately short, at about 20 minutes, to allow attendees more time to pay their respects at the Wall afterwards. * The wreath will be placed at the Wall immediately after the ceremony. (South East of the Wall between 21st and 20th streets.) There is neither reserved parking nor any seating. The RSL is grateful for the assistance of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund in obtaining the event permit.  http://www.vvmf.org/ Why Long Tan?  “In 1987 Prime Minister Bob Hawke designated 18 August as Australia’s official Vietnam Veterans’ Day. The date commemorates the [1966] Battle of Long Tan, during which Delta Company 6 RAR fought an ‘encounter’ battle against enemy forces in the Long Tan rubber plantation just a few tho...

Here are some Australian and New Zealand resources on the Vietnam War, including the Battle of Long Tan:   http://vietnam-war.commemoration.gov.au/ http://vietnam-war.commemoration.gov.au/combat/images/long-tan/diagram-of-battle-stages.pdf http://vietnam-war.commemoration.gov.au/combat/battle-of-long-tan.php A recent documentary about the Battle of Long Tan: http://www.battleoflongtan.com/ A version of today's PowerPoint presentation: https://skydrive.live.com/view.aspx/Long%20Tan%20Dave%20Sabben%20Presentation/LongTan-Presentation-Dave-Sabben.pps?cid=7a5f7e0b9a293e9e&sc=documents New Zealand in the Vietnam War: http://www.vietnamwar.govt.nz/

Fellow members and friends, It is with regret that I have to inform you of the passing of two members, Stephen T. Ching and John Gilbert Henry. 2004 President Captain Stephen T. Ching of Amelia Island, Fl., passed away on Saturday, July 7, 2012. There will be a funeral service on Thursday July 12, at 11:00 AM at Burgess Chapel at Oxley-Heard Funeral Home, Fernandina Beach, FL followed by interment at 1:00 PM at Jacksonville National Cemetery, Jacksonville FL.   http://www.oxleyheard.com/obituaries.php Longtime member John Gilbert Henry,  of "Journeys End" Copes Mountain, Colga, Sligo, Ireland, passed away  on Thursday, June 14, 2012. He reposed at the Foley & Mc Gowan Funeral Home, Market Yard Sligo on Friday Morning from 9-30am and removed at 10-30am to St. Columcille's Church, Rathcormac for Mass of the Resurrection at 11am. Funeral afterwards to Mount Jerome Crematorium, Harolds Cross, Dublin. http://www.rip.ie/death_notices_detail.asp?N...

Returned & Services League of Australia Washington Sub-Branch 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20036 Notice of July 2012 Meeting When: Thursday July 12, 2012 Time:    Noon to 2:00 pm Where –Amenities room                 Embassy of Australia                 1601 Massachusetts Ave                 Washington DC 20036 Guest Speaker:  Gene Poteat, President, Association of Former Intelligence Officers Topic:  The evolution of the CIA Covert Action  Charge: $15.00, including sodas. Alcoholic beverages, $2.00 each. Volunteers: As usual, we need a volunteer (or two) to run the bar. RSVP (Include your affiliation) by noon on Wednesday July 11, 2012, to David Ward by calling 2...

Returned & Services League of Australia Washington Sub-Branch 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20036 June Newsletter This newsletter includes details of the monthly meeting, the commemoration of the Bakers Creek Air Crash, the Down Under Barbecue, and links to photos taken during ANZAC Day in Washington and the May 10 monthly meeting.   Monthly meeting: Memorial Day was the start of commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. Our commemoration begins at our June meeting, when E. Jane McCarthy shares her experiences of being a nurse at the 95th Evacuation Hospital in Da Nang, South Viet Nam in 1971. When: Thursday June 14, 2012 Time:    Noon to 2:00 pm Where –Amenities room                 Embassy of Australia                 1601 Massachusetts A...

Returned & Services League of Australia Washington Sub-Branch 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20036 Invitation to May Lunch When: Thursday May 10, 2012 Time: Noon to 2:00 pm Where: Amenities Room Embassy of Australia 1601 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington DC 20036 Guest Speaker:  Detective Superintendent Michael Kelsey, Australian Federal Police, Counselor (Police Liaison), Embassy of Australia, Washington Topic: The Australian Federal Police and the role of the Police Liaison. Charge: $15.00, including sodas. Alcoholic beverages, $2.00 each. Volunteers: As usual, we need a volunteer (or two) to run the bar. RSVP (Include your affiliation) by noon on Wednesday May 9, 2012, to David Ward by calling 202-352-8550, or via e-mail to dmward1973 (at) gmail dot com. Parking: There is no parking at the Embassy. In addition to on street metered parking, nearby commercial parking facilities are located behind and under the Airline Pi...

What is ANZAC Day? ANZAC Day – 25 April – is probably Australia's most important national occasion. It marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. What does ANZAC stand for? ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The soldiers in those forces quickly became known as ANZACs, and the pride they took in that name endures to this day. Why is this day special to Australians? When war broke out in 1914, Australia had been a federal commonwealth for only 13 years. The new national government was eager to establish its reputation among the nations of the world. In 1915 Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of the allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula in order to open the Dardanelles to the allied navies. The ultimate objective was to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul in Turkey), the capital of the Ottoman Empire, an ally of Germany. The Australian ...