THEY stood side by side yesterday, weighed down by the strength and sacrifice of their forebears.
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Amanda Cullen and Sam Hugget were among a growing number of young people at Anzac Day services across Orange.
The long-time friends wore the medals of their fathers, uncles and grandfathers for the day as a sign of respect.
“It’s about respect ... it’s important to keep it going,” Ms Hugget said.
“We have a big army family, my cousin just came back from Afghanistan.”
They wore medals from conflicts including World War II, Vietnam as well as National Service Medals.
While numbers were down at yesterday’s dawn service at the cenotaph at Robertson Park, about 3000 people still braved the cold weather to attend the early morning service.
Numbers were also down at the long-running annual pilgrimage to the cemetery and Lone Pine to pay tribute to Orange’s lost war heroes.
Orange RSL Sub Branch president Lindsay Wright said the 11am civic commemoration in Robertson Park was well attended with about 4000 people there.
“The number of children was amazing,” he said.
“All the schools are now involved and we have an Anzac Day service in most of the schools.”
Pastor John Shuttleworth was in charge of the service and spoke of the sacrifice the men and women of Australia’s armed forces have made for the country.
“There’s no greater gift than a man who will lay down his life for another,” he said.
Afternoon sessions of the ever-popular two-up game brought in crowds across Orange, with numbers swelling to place a bet on the toss of a coin.
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