Ian McKenzie (left) and David Henderson (right) ride down Dempster Street.
Three army cadets bearing the Australian and New Zealand flag, veterans, and a convoy of Esperance representative bodies, marched through Dempster Street on ANZAC morning.
The Esperance Brass Band led the parade to the memorial where hundreds of people gathered to pay their respects.
President of the Esperance RSL Sub-branch, Glen Churchland, opened the service.
“Today we pay tribute to all the service men and women who have served and are still serving,” Mr Churchland said.
This ANZAC Day marks 110 years since Australian and New Zealand troops landed in Gallipoli.
More than 100,000 Australian military personnel have died since.
Vietnam War veteran Rob Costolloe wore his medals and his father’s WWII decorations on his chest during Friday’s parade.
Mr Costolloe served for 21 years as a mechanic for the training team in Vietnam.
He said he has been commemorating the day since before he can remember.
“I used to march with my father – I wasn’t even 10 years old,” he said.
“It’s about getting together with all of the comrades that you’ve served with over the years.”
Remembrance and reflection were core messages during the service.
Esperance Navy Cadets sub-lieutenant Niamh Barnes said ANZAC Day was especially important for the younger cadets to ensure past mistakes aren’t repeated.
“It’s important for everyone to remember what’s happened,” Sub-lieutenant Niamh Barnes said.
“I think this is the best way to commemorate and to share stories and to show people what it’s all about.”
Esperance Pathfinder Club member Ezra Boucher shared a similar sentiment.
“Anzac Day means to me a day to remember the people who have helped our country,” Ezra said.
The Australian and New Zealand flags flew at half-mast as members of the community lay wreaths in honour of those who died for their country.
Vietnam veteran and RSL Sub-branch secretary Hugh Knight said they’d never had so many wreaths for ANZAC Day.
Mr Knight helped organise the service.
Despite the large crowd, he said the gloomy weather probably deterred more people from attending.
“The turnout wasn’t as good this year as it has been in the past,” he said.
“The dawn service is usually huge but that was down quite a bit, I thought.”
ANZAC Day was first commemorated in Australia in 1916. The Esperance memorial was constructed nine years later, in 1925.
