Thousands lined the city's main street and poured into the Victory Memorial Gardens for Wagga's main Anzac Day commemoration on Friday morning, with one of the city's largest crowds on record attending the new-look ceremony.

The procession was headed by a cavalcade of vehicles carrying veterans and the Wagga Pipe Band as it made its way north up Baylis Street to the Victory Memorial Gardens.

For three-time Vietnam veteran Mal Waters, who served two tours in the SAS, the ceremony was a chance to reflect on what our fallen servicemen and women have done for today's society.

"The main reason is remembrance and to make people realise we didn't get this lifestyle for nothing," he said.

But Anzac Day celebrations each year are also a chance to celebrate comradeship and to reflect on the sacrifices friends and family have made on the battlefield.

"My mother lost four of her brothers in World War II," he said.

"We've got to show we appreciate the effort."

Several wreaths were laid at the cenotaph during the ceremony by politicians, veterans, the Wagga RSL sub-branch, schools, the armed forces and Wagga police.

The keynote address was delivered by the commander of the defence force's Joint Logistics Command, Rear Admiral Clint Thomas, who spoke of the vital role Wagga has played in the nation's armed forces and of the importance of Anzac Day.

Wagga RSL sub-branch president Kevin Kerr also spoke at the ceremony, paying tribute to the contribution the nation's servicemen have made, both at home and overseas.

"Your professionalism and behaviour has set you a good example and proven you to be good representatives for Australia," he said.

"Some people at home criticise the military for going into hostile areas of operations, but I say, ask the locals in those areas who have been awarded with peace what they think as they move around their villages freely with the threats of hostility removed."