The person they were, some of the life they lived before enlisting to fight, their service and what became of them is highlighted in a reading during the two Raymond Terrace Anzac Day services to make the names "engraved into the stone more meaningful".

"So each time you pass the memorial as you go about your daily business you might feel a little closer attachment to those commemorated here, whose service and sacrifice benefitted us all today," Raymond Terrace RSL Sub-Branch president Vic Jones RAR said.

There are 113 WWI and 102 WWII veterans from Raymond Terrace and surrounds named on the town's war memorial.

In a special reading at the mid-morning Anzac Day service on Sunday, the life of Flight Sergeant Jeffrey Linton, a World War II veteran, was read by his niece, Penelope Highland.

Ms Highland became emotional as she neared the end of the reading of her uncle's life story to a crowd of about 450 people.

The Flight Sergeant was born in England on February 8, 1917. He was the eldest child of Reverend Hugh Linton and Libby Pike, who travelled to England at the outbreak of World War I. The reverend served as chaplain to the British army during the war. The Linton family returned to Australia in 1919. The reverend finished his time as chaplain at St John's in Raymond Terrace.

With a second world war looming, Flight Sergeant Linton initially enlisted in the Army in 1938 where he served for two years before transferring to the air crew. He was accepted into the RAAF in 1941. He eventually became a qualified radio operator air gunner and was part of efforts to destroy enemy barges, vessels and other aircraft.

Flight Sergeant Linton and his crew all died when their plane crashed while attempting to land at an airport in Libya on December 9, 1942. They are buried in Libya.

Following the service, Ms Highland said it had been an "honour" to do the reading.

"It was quite moving," she said.

A new addition to the Anzac Day service this year was the further incorporation of living servicemen who are part of the Raymond Terrace community.

Each Raymond Terrace school was asked to invite a serviceman or veteran and join them when laying a wreath.

"We're very good at honouring veterans who have gone before us but it's just as important to honour our living veterans and acknowledge their service," Mr Jones said.

Among the servicemen that joined students at the mid-morning service was Petty Officer Neale Merrick RAN from Medowie. He accompanied Wirreanda Public School captains Ella Smith and Declan Halliday.

Honouring the 100^th anniversary of RAAF, the Raymond Terrace service was joined by a strong contingent of Air Force members. The Anzac Address was delivered by Williamtown RAAF Base Warrant Officer Phil Martin who reflected on the anniversary and Anzac Day services being open to the public again this year after being restricted to driveways during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic early in 2020.

As Warrant Officer Martin spoke to the crowd, sounds of a F-35A Lightning II - the RAAF's newest generation of fighter jet - travelled over the service.

Raymond Terrace's services were mostly 'as normal' this year, however there was no march through town. There was also a separation of attendees with invited guests, including veterans and dignitaries, having to check-in and sit in COVID-spaced seating within the roped off area in front of the memorial and the remaining public asked to stand on the roads around Anzac Park.

Mr Jones said he was "very happy" with the turn out to the Raymond Terrace dawn and mid-morning services given there was confusion around the COVID-19 limitations this year.

Mary Frost is wife and sister-in-law to Vietnam War veterans.

The Seaham resident, who attended the mid-morning Anzac Day service in Raymond Terrace on Sunday with her husband, Peter, and grandchildren, proudly wore a shirt that thanks veterans for their service.

It reads "thank you... remember them April 25".

"It's a nice way to outwardly show our thanks for their service," Mrs Frost said.

The shirt was purchased for Mrs Frost by her daughter-in-law last year.

However, Mrs Frost suggested that residents wishing to similarly show their thanks to veterans and servicemen and women could easily purchase or make a similar shirt to wear on commemorative days such as April 25 and November 11.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: