As Australians fight on in war-torn Afghanistan, the nation's top dignitaries stepped up to salute the troops who served in recovery efforts in Iraq at a parade in Canberra.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Defence force chief Angus Houston and Governor-General Quentin Bryce led the official party to view a parade of more than 300 servicemen and women to honour all those who served in Operation Catalyst.
Operation Catalyst was the Australian Defence Force's (ADF) contribution to the US-led multinational force to help rebuild Iraq and restore stability.
It followed Australian forces' deployment in combat and other roles in a US-led coalition that entered Iraq in 2003 in response to alleged potential threats the country's regime posed to the region.
More than 20,000 ADF personnel took part in Operation Catalyst from 2003 until it was wrapped up in July 2009.
"The men and women who were deployed on Operation Catalyst were wonderful ambassadors for Australia," Air Chief Marshal Houston said during the commemorations outside the war memorial.
"As indeed are the men and women still deployed within Iraq with the United Nations and those who are providing security to the Australian embassy."
He said all Australians should pause for a moment to consider the service of their countrymen and women who were deployed on Operation Catalyst.
"In our name and under our flag, they risked their lives to provide others with a brighter future."
Mr Rudd said the Iraq veterans were the "ANZACs of today".
"You should be proud as we are proud of you."
Feedback from political leaders from around the world said their service had been "exemplary", he said.
"Wherever you serve, my experience as prime minister, is that they always want more of you and that is because you do a first-class job," he said.
The prime minister promised those left injured would be looked after and remembered the Australians who died during Operation Catalyst.
"Your needs will be met consistent with conditions of service of all our veterans past, our veterans now, and our veterans of the future," he said.
Air Chief Marshal Houston joined Mr Rudd in paying tribute to the ADF's three casualties during the operation.
Flight Lieutenant Paul Pardoel, a graduate of the Australian Defence Force Academy, was killed while serving with the British Royal Air Force.
Warrant Officer Dave Nary was killed while preparing for deployment to Iraq on November 6, 2005, and Private Jake Kovco died in a firearm incident in 2006.
Private Kovco's wife, Shelly, attended the parade with their seven-year-old son Tyrie, who marched in honour of his dad.
"It means a lot," Ms Kovco told AAP.
"We're here on Jake's behalf. Jake couldn't be here, and he would have been here, if Jake had have returned."
Ms Kovco described the parade "a bit of closure".
Naval Commander Ian Bray, a submariner, served in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2004 and 2005.
"Although I'm in the navy, I was posted as the liaison officer between the Australian headquarters and the American headquarters," he told reporters.
Commander Bray served with the Americans for six months.
"To find myself in a desert, carrying a gun, with marines and US army rangers is a completely different experience to what I'm used to as a naval officer," he said.
Warrant Officer Rob Swanwick and his fiance Flight Lieutenant Lisa Snell both served in Iraq - but at different times.
They met before the conflict began, but during Flight Lieutenant Snell's last deployment, the couple flew to Paris to become engaged.
Officer Swanwick said it was important not only to recognise the efforts of the personnel, but also the families they left behind.
"In our case, when Lisa was deployed, I was the person left at home to deal with all the other stuff that we have to deal with and do the support role of sending mail and making phone calls and sending boxes of Tim Tams and Vegemite."
Flight Lieutenant Snell said she felt honoured by the recognition of the work done in Iraq.
Front page
RSS Feed