You will hear those words and phrases repeated many times at Anzac Day, Remembrance, Korea War and Vietnam Veterans Day commemoration services.

But what do the words mean?

Following the July 2020 Korea Day service in Taree, Darcy Elbourne spoke candidly to the Manning River Times about what each term means to him.

His priority as a member of the sub-branch is to ensure the legacy of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten.

"The Korean War had this tag, the 'forgotten war', and part of what I'm about and what we're all about is that we don't forget," Mr Elbourne said.

WATCH: Darcy Elbourne shares thoughts on significance of 'remembrance' and 'Lest We Forget'

"Lest We Forget means we fear that we might forget. My thing in life at the moment is to keep this memory going."

He said remembrance is a core value of the Returned Services League.

"Once we forget what it's all about, we might as well pull all the memorials down and forget about it," Mr Elbourne said.

Mr Elbourne recalled the most unique Remembrance Day service in sub-branch history. With it came a moment that will stay with him for life.

With parts of the Mid Coast ravaged by bushfires in November 2019, Club Taree was quickly transformed into an evacuation centre.

"It was crawling with evacuees, some people carrying belongings they'd put together hurriedly," Mr Elbourne said.

"There were cats and dogs in carry baskets, we had emergency service people, ambos, SES, firies and all the other support services.

"Everyone was busy, it was like a myriad of ants moving around."

On November 11, Mr Elbourne and other sub-branch members were preparing for the Remembrance Day service while unsure of what the response would be.

"I was thinking 'what am I going to do' but at 11 o'clock it all changed," Mr Elbourne said.

Evacuees, emergency services and volunteers all paused to remember the end of World War I.

"There seemed to be a point where everyone knew what it was about, it was that remembrance time," Mr Elbourne said.

"Before I started this feeling came over us - everyone was there and they were quiet and looking at me."

Sub-branch chaplain Reverend Bill Green had the same feelings.

"It was unbelievable, there were so many people who had been evacuated from their homes, wherever they were from the Manning area, and here they were in this complete silence," Rev Green said.

"I don't think I'll witness anything like that again because it was so perfect for the time at that stage of the bushfires."

Mr Elbourne said the moment was remembrance at its finest.

"Here is remembrance at its best because people remember in their own silent way," Mr Elbourne said.

"It's not what I tell them to remember, they sit there for the moment's silence and think personally about how this affected them and affected their family.

"I was only a facilitator in bringing it all together on that very special day."

Mr Elbourne served as a reserve soldier in the latter stages of the Vietnam War.

Since veterans aren't getting any younger, it's up to the new generations to stand up and preserve the Australian war history.

"Nowadays there are very few World War II and Korean veterans left and all our Vietnam veterans are getting older," Mr Elbourne said.

"So that remembrance has to go to the younger generation to carry on what we're about.

"We've got a generation now that has never had anyone who has drawn them to those days (early wars) but they hunger for that information and what our history was all about."

He takes great pride in representing the sub-branch at funerals for servicemen.

"That is a part of the final thank you to those people who have served their country, have paid the supreme sacrifice and the last thing to have the Last Post and Reveille played and the placement of the poppies on their casket," Mr Elbourne said.

"The families get a special warmth out of that and it's something I take very personally."

Thank you for valuing local journalism with your subscription. While you're with us, you can also receive updates straight to your inbox from the Manning River Times. To make sure you're up to date with all the news, sign up here.