Geraldton serviceman Peter Gerada details what Anzac Day means to him ahead of services across the Mid West.

Peter Gerada has been serving in the Defence Force for nearly 40 years.

He has also served for 28 years with the police force, and has been located in the Mid West since 2010.

A warrant officer class II, Mr Gerada has been a part of “operational deployment”, has several medals from his time in the Australian Army, and works as a recruiter for the Pilbara Regiment.

Having joined the army in 1986, his first Anzac Day as a soldier was at the Kapooka Army Base in New South Wales.

Police Sgt Gerada said it was a bit of an eye-opener.

“Coming through school, we really didn’t have much to do with the Defence Force to be honest,” he said.

“My first Anzac Day was quite a big thing, because the recruit training battalion is massive.

“It was a lot more intense.”

Sgt Gerada said the Anzac spirit was something that got instilled in you early on.

The Australian War Memorial defines it as the qualities which madk up Australian soldiers, including mateship, courage, ingenuity, endurance, and good humour.

According to Sgt Gerada, everyone gets to learn what it means to be a soldier, including the history of the wars Australia has been a part of.

He said Anzac Day provided a lot of emotion for people across Australia.

“We show our respects as a community, not just the Defence Force,” Sgt Gerada said.

“You might have returned servicemen who show their respect, and they think about mates who have fallen.

“There are also people who turn up just to be respectful.”

Craig Bassett is part of the Geraldton City Band, and has the honour of playing The Last Post on the bugle at the Geraldton dawn service.

His grandfather served in the Australian Army, but never attended a dawn service after returning.

“It was never spoken about — some people can’t talk about it,” Mr Bassett said.

“But for those who do come along, the camaraderie afterwards is fantastic.”

For Sgt Gerada, serving in the Australian Army is one of his proudest achievements.

“The Defence Force isn’t easy, and it’s not for everyone,” he said.

“But for those who want to do it, serving is an extremely fulfilling job.”

Sgt Gerada said the bonds created in the Defence Force were unbreakable.

“You respect the person who’s standing beside you,” he said.

“You look at the Anzacs. It didn’t matter where they were from, they were all there as one.”

This year marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day, when 10,000 aircrafts and 6000 ships took to the beaches of Normandy in France in World War II.

About 3200 Australians were among the 130,000 allied troops who risked their lives on the day, with thousands more following in the days and weeks following.

Thirteen Australians sacrificed their lives for their country on D-Day, and 39,657 Australians lost their lives while serving in WWII.

This Anzac Day also marks 80 years of women in service overseas for Australia.

City of Greater Geraldton mayor Jerry Clune said it was important to recognise the sacrifice people had made for us to be free.

“Anzac Day is one of the most important days on the Australian calendar,” he said.

“It is a day when we acknowledge those who have defended our country and our way of life.

“I look forward to attending the services and remembering those who have fought for our country and the values we hold dear.”