Poppies at Long Tan.

Today, at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, a minute’s silence shall be observed in Commonwealth countries to mark the anniversary of the official end of World War I in 1918.

Red poppies are typically worn on Remembrance Day due to the poem, In Flanders Fields. “These poppies bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War I, their brilliant red colour an appropriate symbol for the blood spilt in the war”, notes Wikipedia.

On a lighter note, yesterday, Vietnam Veteran, Ron Vernon emailed the Vietnam Swans with a photo of the RAAF’s Vung Tau footy team which took the flag in 1967. Ron had just received the photo, reproduced below, from the Australian War Memorial and thought the Swannies may be interested. Too right we are!!

The Australian War Memorial’s description simply states: “Some of the members of the (1967) RAAF Vung Tau team, who were winners in the local competition, line up for the trophy presentation.”

1967 Premiers, RAAF Team, Vung Tau

The photo was taken by Barnie Ward in May 1967 ((c) Australian War Memorial).

Meanwhile, this coming weekend, members of the Vietnam Swans will travel to Vung Tau for a training session on the former Lord Mayor’s Oval (now the Greyhound Racing Track) which was used for footy matches during the War. The Vietnam Swans also use it for the ANZAC Friendship Match.

Footnote: Ron Vernon, who supplied the above photo, has confirmed that he will be a special guest at the 2011 ANZAC Friendship Match, Vung Tau.

To learn more about the Vietnam Swans ANZAC Friendship Match, click here.