Peter Green asked those attending Newcastle's Remembrance Day service to consider what they "get to" do because of the fallen.
"On countless mornings, I got to wake up before the dawn and see beautiful sunrises," he said.
"As a soldier, I've seen thousands of sunrises. Across oceans and deserts, in jungles and across hazy city skies.
"I get to have a say in who leads our country, and I get to attend services such as today in this beautiful setting where I get to remember.
"You too, have freedom. Freedom that has been paid for by others.
"We get to live in a country where you can say, 'I get to...', because of the sacrifices of those who have served.
"And especially those who never got to return home and enjoy their own freedom.
"They truly gave their tomorrow so we may have their today. This is what freedom through sacrifice means to me. This is what remembrance means to me.
"So what will you do to honour them? When you rise to meet each new day, will you say 'I get to'?"
Mr Green, the City of Newcastle RSL Sub-Branch's vice president, was the main speaker at Civic Park on Wednesday. Having served for more than 33 years, Mr Green's speech reflected on the sacrifices of those who stood alongside him and those who came before him.
His words flowed to a crowd that was a shadow of prior years due to COVID-19, but the message made for, as president Ken Fayle put it, "a properly solemn event".
About 40 people were in the official ceremony area around the park's cenotaph, but more than 100 watched on from beyond the fence; ex-soldiers, hi-vis workers, police officers and plain-clothed Novocastrians who came to pay their respects.
One of those was Boston Larke, a former Army captain attending his first Newcastle service since leaving the force. Reflecting on his decade of service, Mr Larke said working in the armed forces had a "feeling of family, of belonging, that I don't think a lot of my [non-serving] mates have experienced".
"We look forward to days like today," he said. "Whether it's ANZAC Day or Remembrance Day, I think it's important as an ex-serving member you never forget.
"I know mates that I've lost overseas and those that went before us. I don't think in this country, fortunately, we're in too much danger of people forgetting anytime soon but it's always nice to spend time and show you remember."
Air Commodore Barbara Courtney, commander of the RAAF's Surveillance and Response Group at Williamtown, said the RAAF members involved on Wednesday had jumped at the chance to partake after the disruption to ANZAC Day services.
"We are thrilled to be involved with Remembrance Day," she said.
"I've done some in London, Tokyo, Afghanistan and the Middle East.
"Each location brings a sense of poignancy to it, but it's actually really nice to do one with the people of the town, particularly in a town with such a close community as Newcastle, where people have really strong links to those who have gone before us."
City of Newcastle RSL sub-branch president Ken Fayle said it was disappointing children could not be involved, but he was pleased the event could be held.
"We've done what we set out to do: hold a commemorative service, a memorial service, in Newcastle. We've kept the tradition of the last 100-odd years," he said.
Mr Fayle said RSL members were "gutted" ANZAC Day events did not proceed this year, but he vowed they would do everything possible to have a some sort of ceremony return in 2021.
"We are being positive and will start planning ANZAC Day next week," he said.
"We believe now we've got this over, we can certainly hold a Civic Park service next year. I am led to believe that we may be able to hold a march and then all we've got to do then is lock in the dawn service; how many people can attend, how big we go."
