As Colonel Steve Jobson addressed the crowd in the pre-dawn darkness at the Kapooka dawn service, his voice cracked and his poise lapsed when the speech turned to his fallen mates.

It offered yet another moving reminder of how deeply personal Anzac Day is to so many.

Anzac Day tells a story greater than us all, a story of courage, strength and sacrifice.

No other day on the nation’s calendar conveys such rich and concrete human values.

Because at its core, Anzac Day isn’t amount mindless jingoism or politically correct tokenism, it’s about something far more tangible.

It’s about people.

It’s about fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters standing up and declaring “I will fight to protect the things that matter”.

And at a time when materialism and the mindless pursuit of wealth are increasingly becoming a religion, it tells a story we must preserve.

The sight of thousands of locals lining Baylis Street to pay their respect is living proof of the place Anzac Day holds in our collective hearts.

From the little boy wearing his grandfather’s medals to the young girl clutching a bunny her dad made to keep her company while he fought in Afghanistan, the true spirit of the Anzac was everywhere.

In Wagga, a city with such a rich military history, the day holds even more resonance.

Much of what we hold dear as a community is contained in the story and spirit of the Anzacs. 

For those that still believe Anzac Day glorifies war, that is your right. 

But never forget your freedom to question such a cherished institution was forged in the crucible of war by young men who fought to preserve that very freedom.

On this day, we should not dwell on the reasons we went to war nor get caught up in political rhetoric. We should simply admire the sense of duty of those that served.

If Monday’s crowds in Wagga and the wider Riverina were any guide, the sound of the bugle will continue to echo for generations to come. 

It is your duty to ensure the legacy continues.

Lest we forget.