Recognising Defence families this Remembrance Day
A message from Defence Families of Australia
Families attending commemoration events this Remembrance Day are encouraged to lay a small teddy bear beside their wreath to acknowledge the families of veterans and current serving Australian Defence Force members.
Defence Families of Australia (DFA) and Legacy Australia, with the support of RSL Australia, have joined forces on the #RememBEARance campaign to acknowledge and pay tribute to the strength, sacrifice and service of Defence families.
This act of paying tribute to families complements the profound meaning of Remembrance Day, which remembers and honours those who served, are currently serving, and those we have lost.
Recent 2021 Census data shows that one in 20 Australian households (5.3%) have at least one person who was either currently serving or had previously served in the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
Families can choose to lay a small stuffed toy of significant personal and sentimental value, which they can collect at an appropriate time after the commemoration event.
Legacy Australia Chairman Legatee Eric Easterbrook OAM said that this was an easy initiative to support but has a big impact in commemorating our veterans and their families.
‘Laying a teddy with a wreath is a beautiful symbol to help commemorate the sacrifices that our military families make for our country,’ Mr Easterbrook said.
RSL Australia National President Greg Melick said families play a vital role supporting our veterans, both during and after service.
‘The gesture of laying a bear to acknowledge their role, in addition to the traditional wreath-laying on Remembrance Day, is a new concept led by Defence Families of Australia to which we have given our support,’ Mr Melick said.
This partnership between Legacy, RSL and DFA is an example of a positive collaboration between agencies that support and pay respect to veterans, current serving members and families.
‘Families are essential to supporting a stronger ADF,’ said Defence Family Advocate, Sandi Laaksonen-Sherrin.
‘Our Defence capability thrives when families are valued and supported during and following their military service.
‘We hope this campaign will give Defence and veteran families the recognition they deserve, but don’t always get, for their service to our nation by supporting their ADF member.’
For more information about the campaign, go to the DFA website.
*As part of the campaign, we encourage those who choose to lay a bear or symbolic memento to retrieve their item once the ceremony has concluded to minimise waste around the memorials and cenotaphs.
