About 250 year 9 Marist College students have been shown firsthand what Anzac Day means as they participated in Defence initiatives across Canberra on Wednesday.
As part of the college's Footsteps program, the students were engaged in an Australian flag laying ceremony at Woden Cemetery, Australian War Memorial, Soldier On presentation with returned soldiers in Gungahlin and a WWI presentation from the ACT Historical Society.
Student Oliver Fitje Du Preez, 14, said it "means a lot that I can be included in remembering those who served to protect our country and I'm just very grateful for that".
"Honouring those who died for us and not to disrespect them in any way," he said.
Similarly, schoolmate Oscar Allan said it was "very special that we're able to come and visit these places to show respect for those who had fought and died for our safety and freedom".
"Today's been good, it's given us an insight into how they fought and the sacrifices they made," Oscar said.
Making a special appearance from the Southern Highlands to lead the students was veteran John Stead.
The 72-year-old joined the army at only 17 and served for six years.
Asked about what he hoped the students would learn from the initiative, Mr Stead said "certainly respect".
He is now part of the not-for-profit charity Honour Our Fallen, which started in 2017 and aims to place Australian flags on the gravesite or memorial plaque of any person who served in any of the forces since the Boer War.
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The program's coordinator Matthew Calder said the idea was to give students real-life experiences outside the classroom
"You can't replicate an experience like what we've been able to provide here today," he said.
"To acknowledge real service and sacrifice and for the students to really acknowledge that and have empathy for that.
"It's a level of experience we would otherwise can't substitute, so this organisation Honour Our Fallen is a phenomenal idea to recognise each and every gravesite across the whole of Australia."
