About 250 people gathered at Launceston's Cenotaph on Monday to remember the brave servicemen and women who have given their lives for Australia.
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Particular emphasis was placed on the critical issue of veterans suicide, mentioned by guest speaker Major Daniel Ritchie.
"Veterans suicide is a heartbreaking epidemic that we've got at the moment that there are so many young people at the moment who are struggling in such a way that they go down that path," Maj Ritchie said.
"We need to keep raising awareness of that and acknowledge that they've been through some pretty horrible things and when they separate from the ADF sometimes there is a loss of purpose or identity.
"We need to make sure we're caring for them and letting them know we appreciate them for what they've done for us."
"I can't speak to the politics of it all but anything that can be done to help out in this area is a positive step forward," Maj Ritchie said.
Maj Ritchie said while 41 Australians were killed in the war in Afghanistan during 2000 and 2016, more than 370 former servicemen and women had committed suicide in the same timeframe.
"We need to do something about it. These men and women are the cream of the crop - the best of our young people and the best of our veterans from previous conflicts," he said.
"It's a big issue and important that we do something about it."
Fellow guest speaker and Bass Liberal MHR Bridget Archer spoke of the families in Tasmania who have suffered tremendous loss, including that of Corporal Richard Atkinson.
"It is on days like this that we stand with those who knew and loved Corporal Atkinson amidst the insurmountable loss they have felt nearly everyday for the past eight-and-a-half years," Ms Archer said in her speech.
Launceston RSL secretary Peter Williams said both speeches touched on important issues for those at the service to reflect upon.
"People don't realise, it's [veteran's suicide] is not something that's new - it's actually something that's happened after every war," he said.
"We've really got to look at how we deal with those issues."
- For crisis support, call Lifeline 13 11 14.