Emotional and exciting.
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Those were the two emotions clearly felt by veterans in Wangaratta on Anzac Day.
And the main reason was their new RSL club was filled for the first time, after an eight year battle, at the old Sydney Hotel.
Sub-branch president Lieutenant General Ash Power AO, CSC said it was a particularly special day for members and the community.
"This is a great community venue, not only for the RSL and the members," he said.
"We had about 400 more members who have signed up in the past week and that is only going to grow.
"It has been about a seven to eight year journey to get us this far and a lot of people put a lot of work in over the years."
The last remaining Wangaratta Korean veteran Ken Moore was emotional at times through the main service at the cenotaph.
And although the 88-year-old wouldn't speak of it afterwards, he wiped away tears during the main service.
"I am the last one left that I know of," Mr Moore said.
"It is a bit emotional but it is great to see so many families out and I will be back for Remembrance Day and we will see you next year."
Lt General Power said they will officially open their new club on May 4.
"We are actually going to march from the old venue to the new," he said.
"We are licensed for 864 which would make it a big night but today we are expecting around 1000 which we can accommodate today because we will be out in the car park.
"The women's auxiliary have done hundreds of hours of research and there are 18 history boards which goes from WWI right through to Afghanistan and Iraq and great little snippets of local information as well.
"We put the call out for people who had names they would like remembered on our memorial wall and 515 people put names forward.
"And those names go right through from the Boer War to name of people who are currently serving."
Hundreds marched down Ovens Street before more than 1000 attended the main service at the cenotaph before the new RSL doors were opened to members and guests.
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