***EMBARGOED 12.01AM, 5 MAY
2018***
MEDIA RELEASE
5 May 2018
AUSTRALIANS ENCOURAGED TO
RECOGNISE BATTLE OF CORAL SEA DAY
THE 76th
anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea,
which ended Japanese attempts on Port Moresby by
sea, will be commemorated today with a national
service at the Shrine of Remembrance in
Melbourne.
Minister for
Veterans’ Affairs Darren Chester said the Battle
of the Coral Sea had long been regarded as “the
battle that saved Australia”.
“The Battle of
the Coral Sea is the largest naval battle that
has ever been fought off Australia’s shores and
is significant because it prevented a Japanese
sea-borne invasion of Port Moresby,” Mr Chester
said.
“The battle was
fought in the waters southwest of the Solomon
Islands and east of New Guinea between 4 and 8
May 1942 and was one of a series of actions that
year which ended the Japanese threat to
Australia.
“If the
Japanese had been successful they could have
landed a force in Port Moresby, furthering their
aim to cut sea routes between Australia and the
United States.”
No Australians
were killed during the naval battle although
more than 550 Americans were killed or wounded
and the United States aircraft carrier USS
Lexington was sunk.
Today’s
commemorations in Melbourne, which involve a
wreath-laying service, are an opportunity to
show thanks and gratitude to the service men and
women of Australia and the United States who
saved the nation from imminent threat.
“I offer the
thanks of grateful generations to the men and
women who sacrificed so much in the defence of
our country,” Mr Chester said.
“On this
anniversary, we remember those who fought in the
Battle of the Coral Sea. Their efforts will
never be forgotten.”
ENDS
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Whil Prendergast: 0427 672 815
DVA Media: 02 6289 6466
Office of the Hon. Darren Chester MP,
Canberra.
Veterans and
Veterans Families Counselling Service (VVCS) can
be reached 24 hours a day across Australia for
support and free and confidential counselling.
Phone 1800 011 046 (international:
+61 8 8241 4546). VVCS is a
service founded by Vietnam veterans.