Richard McCarthy launched Honour Our Fallen just prior to ANZAC day last year which aimed to place Australian flags on the graves of fallen service men and women going as far back at the Boer War in 1899.

"It's an annual event we started here in the Highlands, the first placing of the flags was the 2018 ANZAC day. Six schools in the area do the research on our cemeteries and defence personal, and then go place flags on their graves just prior to ANZAC day and withdraw the flags the weekend after," he said.

"The program has grown since then and we are now in 85 cemeteries around Australia and about 6000 flags are placed by schools in six states and the ACT.

"We've had great support from the local schools who come out in uniform over the school holidays, which is rare, I wouldn't have done it when I was their age. Their dedication is gratefully appreciated by Honour Our Fallen for the fact they come out and spend that time and put the flags out to honour all those that have given their lives for the life we have today."

The idea was first inspired by a trip to America, where Richard and his wife noticed the level of respect for veterans in airports and shopping centres. After an encounter in a bar in Nashville with a service man who just returned from Afghanistan thanking Richard for his service in the Vietnam war, Richard turned to his wife and said "when I get back to Australia, I'm going to do something about it."

Since then the Honour Our Fallen program has grown. 

"At this stage we are concentrating on Australia but last year we had 10 people place flags in Villers-Bretonneux and five in Lone Pine," he said. 

"I think it's a program close to a lot of people. It's going remarkably well and growing well and we hope that it continues.

"I'm so grateful that the program is growing the way as it is and I am hoping for it be a national program within three to five years so we can continue honouring and recognising service men and women."

For more information or to get involved, visit www.honourourfallen.com

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