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Vietnam veterans, Roger Edmunds (left) and David Langdon (right), with Vietnam War widow, Mary Richardson at the commemoration luncheon.
[Photo courtesy the Murray Pioneer]
Episode 3136 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Australian Vietnam Veterans honoring their Vietnam Vet widows. The featured story is titled: Australian War Widows feted by Riverland Vietnam Veterans on their National Day of Recognition. It appeared in the Australian Rural and Regional News and was submitted David Langdon, Riverland Vietnam Veteran.
Langdon reported that on Sunday, 19 October, National War Widows Day was commemorated for the first time in South Australia with a special luncheon organized by the Riverland Vietnam Veterans (SA) Association. This event, held at Nanya Bistro in Renmark, marked a significant moment in honoring war widows, who have shown immense courage and resilience, standing by their veteran husbands during and after their service.
Vietnam War veterans Roger Edmonds and David Langdon spearheaded the event, which was met with heartfelt participation from local war widows, their families, and representatives from organizations like Legacy and the Renmark RSL. The event not only launched the War Widows Day in the Riverland but also established it as a significant annual observance alongside ANZAC Day, Remembrance Day, and Vietnam Veterans Day.
Langdon spoke movingly about the deep admiration Vietnam veterans hold for the widows, who were integral to supporting their husbands through both war and grief. He emphasized the role of war widows as “unsung heroes” who, after their husbands’ passing, continued to hold their families and communities together. Edmunds echoed this sentiment, thanking organizations like the RSL and Legacy for their vital support in preserving the memory of veterans and their sacrifices.
A poignant moment of the luncheon was the reading of the Honor Roll, remembering six Riverland war widows who had passed away. Their absence was a reminder of the preciousness of time and the importance of expressing gratitude for the sacrifices of these remarkable women. National War Widows Day now serves as a powerful tribute to the enduring strength of these women, whose sacrifices have shaped the freedoms Australians enjoy today.
Listen to Episode 3136 and discover more about Australian Vietnam Veterans honoring their Vietnam Vet widows.
