In the dark they came, quietly gathering, talking in hushed tones, not wanting to break the silence of the early morning.
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As our eyes became accustomed to the darkness it became evident that by 5.40am several hundred people had already gathered, their faces softly highlighted by the lights around the Merimbula War Memorial.
The crowd was of a size that a few years ago would have been considered good for the main 11am service.
Standing in silence and to attention the catafalque party waited to march to the war memorial at the given hour.
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In his opening address RSL sub-branch president Allan Browning spoke about Stanley Savage, the man who started Legacy.
In 1915 Mr Savage enlisted and on September 5 he landed at Gallipoli. He had considerable shooting prowess and survived the horrors of that battle to go on to serve in Egypt and the Western Front where he was gassed.
He started Legacy to look after the sons of returned servicemen.
Merimbula's main service will start at 11am at the war memorial and be preceded by a march from the Merimbula RSL Club of veterans, family members, current servicemen and women and local service organisations.
Read also: 11am march and service photos