For the first time since 2019 a crowd returned to the early morning service, which got underway just before 6am on Anzac morning.

A highway patrol vehicle from the Murrumbidgee Police District led the march with returned servicemen and women, their descendants, school students, members of the Leeton RSL Sub-branch and more making their way down Pine Avenue to the cenotaph.

Residents gathered on the cold morning in a respectful manner, but also in a socially distanced way as per COVID-19 restrictions.

The short service was led by Leeton RSL Sub-branch president Peter Williams, who spoke of never forgetting the sacrifices made by Australian men and women during times of war.

"Let us dedicate ourselves to the service of the ideals for which they died," he said.

"Let us with God's help give us our utmost to make the world what they would have wished it to be - a better and happier and place for all - through whatever means are open to us."

Father Anthony Dunne from the St Joseph's Catholic Church in Leeton then led the crowd in prayer before The Last Post was sounded and a minute silence held.

The service was vastly different to last year's in 2020.

Not only were crowds and events not allowed due to COVID-19 restrictions, but it meant people had to get creative with how they chose to honour the fallen.

In Leeton that meant people standing at the end of their driveways with candles while listening to the national service broadcast on radio.

Mr Williams was a lone figure on that morning raising the flag while the fire station sounded its siren to signal a minute silence across the town.

IN OTHER NEWS:

With a return to more a more "normal" service in 2021, the Sub-branch was pleased to see a show of support from the community on the morning.

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