Rick McCarthy a Vietnam Veteran is an Anzac that is always on call. From the horrors of the theatre of war in Vietnam Rick has remained dedicated to offer his help to humanity.
Rick in 2015 was awarded an OAM for his many services to the world wide community that have included:
· Established and managed an orphanage in Banda Aceh after the tsunami just days after the catastrophe. December 2004.
· Created a cricket program for the differently abled children in India , Sri Lanka, Nepal and throughout Australia.
To mark 50 Years on since the withdrawal of all personnel from the Vietnam conflict and awareness of the Honour Our Fallen program, Rick is getting ready to mark the occasion with a marathon walk of nearly 1400km from Enoggra Barracks memorial in Brisbane to Bowral in the NSW Southern Highlands.
As Founder/ Chairman of HONOUR OUR FALLEN, 75 year old Rick will walk 30- 45 kilometres a day from 17 August to 24 September.
HONOUR OR FALLEN is a Not-For-Profit Company raised in 2017 with charity status, formed to honour and preserve the memory of those deceased military personnel, buried in Australia, who served our nation in all conflicts and theatres of war since the BOER WAR.
As a priority the organization aims to create Respect and Acceptance of those current serving personnel, displaying a Community understanding of their physical and mental issues when returning from deployment and transitioning to civilian life.
In partnership with local schools, who locate and research ex-Service personnel graves in their local cemeteries, in Australia, thereafter on each ANZAC DAY and Remembrance Day place an Australian flag on each gravesite or memorial plaque.
Rick has been training by walking 20 -35 kilometres daily around his hometown of Tuross Head, Moruya and Bodalla and said he is extremely appreciative of the greetings, waves and courtesies extended each morning.
“It keeps my concentration on the traffic instead of talking to the cows and wondering”.
“It’s the early risers in particular, the flashes, toot’s, wiper waves, finger lift, and vigorous hand waves that give me the drive to keep on”.
Cars, tradies, trucks, semi’s, Moruya buses, Ambulances, Fire Brigade, thank you all.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP
Simply go to www.honourourfallen.com, complete “Participation Request” form and press submit.
The organization will then be in touch to discuss the simplicity of what is required or phone 0408670812 with any inquiries.
GoFundMe: Honour Our Fallen-Vietnam 50 years on
Rick has been in contact with many RSL sub Branches along the way with invitations to speak each evening about what drives one to walk 1200km. Visiting schools and students joining me from time to time walking.
Rick told The Beagle he had the honour to meet with Hon. Matt Keogh MP, Minister for Veterans Affairs and Defence personnel, in Canberra last Wednesday and now has appointments to meet 12 other MP’s throughout my journey.
"Most of all I wish to thank all those locals who gave me the encouragement to continue my pilgrimage by a simple cheery wave every morning. I will be thinking of you all step by step for 39 days".
