Passengers onboard Carnival Legend will be in the company of a special guest this Anzac Day, with Vietnam War veteran and Returned and Services League representative Bob Metcalfe joining passengers for the ship’s commemorative Anzac events.
With Carnival Legend sailing the Pacific en route to Hawaii on April 25, Anzac Day will be marked with a dawn service during which Mr Metcalfe will read The Ode and lay a wreath. The service will be followed by breakfast, Anzac biscuits and game of two-up.
Carnival Legend and Carnival Spirit, which will be in port in Sydney on April 25, will both offer a screening of the movie Gallipoli and a friendly game of backyard cricket in the spirit of the day.
Carnival Cruise Line Vice President Australia Jennifer Vandekreeke said the cruise line was honoured to have Mr Metcalfe join Carnival Legend for the poignant occasion.
“Anzac Day is an important occasion for our guests. It’s a day of remembrance and reflection but also a celebration of the Anzac spirit and we are pleased to have Mr Metcalfe join us for the service,” she said.
Mr Metcalfe, a state councillor for the New South Wales Returned and Services League, joined the Australian Army at 19 and served in South Vietnam with 5 Coy. 85 Transport Platoon in Nui-Dat. He was part of the withdrawal forces from Nui-Dat to Vung-Tau in 1971, which was the final involvement of Australian Forces in Vietnam.
Mr Metcalfe has returned to Vietnam twice since, on the second he was a guest of the NSW Premiers ANZAC Memorial Scholarships – Singapore and Vietnam Tour 2013. This year he is returning with his wife Cheryl to Vietnam for the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan.
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