Murray Border Nashos member Michael Maxwell regularly takes part in the Albury's Anzac Day march, but this year, he could not join Wodonga's.
"I still can't see why Wodonga couldn't have had it," Mr Maxwell said.
"There were quite a few sad faces at our community centre this morning at Wodonga Gardens (Estate) when we held our own service."
Mr Maxwell said having lost three members of their group in a fortnight, every Anzac Day counted.
"I was in for 11 years all up,"
"I just missed out on Vietnam, I was sad I didn't go but in one way I'm glad I didn't after seeing some of the people who came back."
Vietnam veteran Bill Godde, 73, was assisted this year by his grandson Braydan after an accident meant he couldn't march.
"I've told him a few stories, he's marched too and carried the banner for three generations of us for quite a few years," he said.
"The flag that my son carries belonged to a friend of mine that got killed in Vietnam, and he's carried the flag ever since the welcome home parade in Sydney
"I served in '69 and '70 - it was pretty tough.
"The platoon commander we had in Vietnam at one stage was actually Sir Peter Cosgrove."
Mr Godde took extra steps such as signing in to take part and lamented the number of people attending the AFL.
"I just hope every veteran has a very good day," he said.
Thousands of people lined Dean Street to watch the march, which did not include school and community groups like it has in years past.
At the morning service, Royal Australian Navy Captain Michael Oborn spoke to the Navy's role in Gallipoli.
"Such close integration of sea, land and air assets in an amphibious operation had not been undertaken before," he said.
"With its power and flexibility, the naval fleet ensured that support for the soldiers ashore never faltered during the entire eight months of the campaign.
"The Navy allowed the Anzacs to use the sea for their own purposes, while preventing the Turkish from doing the same.
"Were control of the sea to have ever been lost, then every soldier ashore on the peninsula would also have been lost."
Captain Oborn said the Allied submarines at Gallipoli including the well-known HMAS AE2 - the story of which is told at the Holbrook Submarine Museum - were crucial.
"In short, Gallipoli was much more than a land campaign on a small peninsula," he said.
"This perspective asks us to contemplate operations in the entire eastern Mediterranean, from more than a land focus, with a joint force perspective.
"The lasting legacy of Gallipoli should not be seen in terms of just the awful trench warfare."
Veterans of each of the forces were present at the morning service.
Fewer than half of the 500 people who had attended the dawn service filled the chairs at 10am, with wreath-laying and other ceremonial aspects would back.
"As we honour the sacrifice of the first Anzacs, we acknowledge those who have followed in the Anzac tradition, through World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan; on peacekeeping missions, and as part of many other operations," Captain Oborn said.
"Today, as we gather in Albury, we are thankful that Australians have fought and died for peace and justice; for the sort of society where we don't fear being locked up for our opinions.
"For the sort of society where no one is held in contempt, or viewed as worthless, on account of gender, or race, or belief, or some other difference."
