More than 800 Moss Vale residents lined the streets for the town's 83rd ANZAC Day commemorative service, with locals of all ages turning out to remember the Australians who have served the nation in war.

The Moss Vale RSL sub-branch, led by president Thomas Lewis, headed the march with representatives from the local cadet corps, Scouts, Girl Guides and schools also taking part in the procession.

In the service, speakers reflected on the battle at Gallipoli 90 years earlier and how the battle had defined the fledgling Australian nation.

In his address keynote speaker HMAS Albatross Sub-Lieutenant Mark Roberts said the courage and determination shown by the ANZAC troops at Gallipoli was a critical event in developing the nation's identity.

"Great events are distinguished by the quality of human endeavour they call upon, by the examples they create for ordinary men and women, and by the legends they inspire; so it is with ANZAC Day," he said.

"It was, historians say, an ill-conceived campaign in pursuit of a vague objective...but the cream of the Australian and New Zealand armies, all volunteers, committed themselves with no hesitation about the nobility of their cause, and fought with great courage, skill and audacity."

Sub-Lieutenant Roberts said the ANZAC tenacity had left a lasting legacy of national confidence that inspired the modern servicemen.

"The tradition is important. Suppose our troops had performed badly at Gallipoli, lost their nerve and their morale? How much more difficult it would have been for those who followed," he said.