The Blue Mountains Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Day service returned to Springwood on Sunday, August 14.
While there was no march this year, the service began at 11am at Springwood War Memorial.
Macquarie MP Susan Templeman delivered the memorial day address on behalf of former Blue Mountains MP, Bob Debus, who tested positive to COVID-19 and was unable to attend.
In his role as State Member for Blue Mountains, Mr Debus was instrumental in the campaign to name the Hawkesbury Road bridge over the Great Western Highway the Long Tan Bridge in 2003.
Mr Debus' speech paid tribute to courage of the Australian men who fought in the battle of Long Tan on August 18, 1966.
In delivering his speech Ms Templeman said while controversy still surrounded aspects of the battle, "there can be no doubt or controversy whatsoever about the courage of the men who fought under exceptionally difficult circumstances that day".
"It was not a very large engagement, relatively speaking, but it was incredibly intense. That is the way of jungle warfare. There were 17 deaths and 25 wounded," she said.
"Long Tan has a place in the pantheon of Anzac history. It is a story of exceptional bravery and steadfast coolness under pressure. It probably prevented an attack on the main Australian base at Nui Dat.
"The Long Tan bridge in Springwood was named in 2003 and the manner of its acceptance showed, as it was meant to do, that the community now honours the veterans in the war in Vietnam as a matter of national pride and sympathy altogether beyond politics."
A formal lunch was held at the Royal Hotel after the service.
The Blue Mountains Vietnam Veterans' Association was formed in 1985, changing its name to the Blue Mountains Vietnam Veterans and Associated Forces Inc in 1997 after accepting veterans who have served in all post World War II theatres of war, special operations areas and peacekeeping operations. It has more than 400 members.
For more information about the association visit: www.bmvets.com.au.
