A SOMBRE crowd commemorated ANZAC day on Tuesday morning at the Bomana War Cemetery outside of Port Moresby.

The stand-to was attended by residents of the city, expatriates, the diplomatic corp., the disciplinary forces and the visiting Australia’s Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove, PNG’s Governor General Bob Dadae, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and the Australian Opposition Leader Bill Shorten.

Sir Peter in his ANZAC speech said that those who gave their lives would remain in our hearts and in our history.

“Their deeds and their sacrifices shaped our countries and their final battle in this part of the world will remain forever etched in our history pages.”

“The fighting here was crucial and keeping the Japanese at bay, they were courageous and endured some of the worst conditions, they were heroes, and they came from different walks of life and served their country.”

Prime Minister O’Neill said that the commemoration gave us an opportunity to thank those who served the country.

“The Kokoda fight was a defining moment in Papua New Guinea, we also remember the fighting that went on around the provinces during World War 2, today we pay tribute to the soldiers, sailors and airmen and the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels who took part in the fighting.”

“Physical and emotional damage was experienced by many, we offer our eternal gratitude for they sacrifice,” Mr O’Neill said.

The singing of the PNG, Australian and New Zealand National Anthems followed with a flyover by the Australian Defence Force Black Hawks and Fighter Jets.