Please join this ANZAC Day to celebrate and recognize the universal qualities of courage, ‘mateship’ and sacrifice made by all Australian, New Zealand and American service personnel who have fought and been lost at war. This esprit de corps was embodied at the ANZAC landing in Gallipoli, as well as by Australian and American troops who served under the joint Australian command of General Sir John Monash at the 1918 WWI Battle of Hamel and beyond.
2026 ANZAC Day & Veterans’ Lunch
All proceeds from this event directly support the American Australian Association and its Veterans’ Fund — providing life-changing educational scholarships to honorably discharged American and Australian military veterans. Your participation helps open doors to new opportunities for those who have served.
Commemorative Service
10.30 – 11.30
Trinity Church Wall Street
89 Broadway, New York
New York 10006, United States
Veterans' Luncheon
12.00 – 14.00
Cipriani 25 Broadway
25 Broadway, New York
New York 10005, United States
Keynote Address
To be delivered at the veterans’ lunch
Vice Admiral (VADM) Mark Hammond AO RAN
Chief of Navy, Royal Australian Navy
Vice Admiral (VADM) Mark Hammond AO RAN joined the RAN in 1986 as an electronics technician before commissioning as a naval officer in 1988. Graduating from the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) in 1990, VADM Hammond served in frigates before volunteering for submarine service and qualifying in the Oberon Class. He is a dual qualified officer, graduating from the RAN Principal Warfare Officers Course, the Netherlands and United States Navy Submarine Command courses, and Australia’s Senior Submariner.
VADM Hammond served extensively in Collins Class submarines. He also gained international experience in French, British and US nuclear attack submarines and Dutch conventional submarines. His Command of HMAS Farncomb included submarine operations across the Indo-Pacific. Subsequent shore postings included the Assistant Naval Attaché in Washington DC, Submarine Capability and Joint Exercise Staff roles, and 12 months as the Chief of Staff to the Chief of the Defence Force.
On promotion to Commodore, VADM Hammond was appointed Director General Maritime Operations. He then returned to the United States as the liaison officer to the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was awarded the United States Legion of Merit (Officer) for his performance in this role and, in 2018, was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for exceptional service to the Australian Defence Force in senior command and staff roles.
On promotion to Rear Admiral, VADM Hammond assumed duties as the Deputy Chief of Navy in 2018, and in late 2020, was appointed Commander of the Australian Fleet. In these demanding appointments, VADM Hammond first oversaw substantial workforce growth. He then focused on enhancing the resilience and warfighting capability of Navy’s people and Fleet during the COVID19 pandemic.
VADM Hammond assumed Command as Chief of Navy on 7 July 2022. He is the first RAN Recruit School and ADFA graduate to do so, and only the second submarine commanding officer to be appointed to the role. In 2023, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to the Royal Australian Navy in senior command roles. In April 2024, he was awarded the Republic of Korea’s Order of National Security Merit Gukseon Medal for outstanding and meritorious services rendered to the Republic of Korea. In October 2024, VADM Hammond was honoured with the Republic of Singapore’s Meritorious Service Medal – Military (Pingat Jasa Gemilang – Tentera) for exceptionally distinguished performance in furthering links between Australia and Singapore.
VADM Hammond holds a Bachelor of Science, Master of Management, Master of Maritime Studies and is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program.
Away from Navy, VADM Hammond’s interests include antique wooden boats, cricket, rugby league (South Sydney Rabbitohs), AFL (Port Adelaide), chess and submarine warfare in World War II. He is the Australian Patron of the Australia–America Veterans Association.
Anzac Address
To be delivered at the commemorative service
His Excellency Mr. James Larsen
Australia's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN
HE Mr James Larsen is Australia’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, taking up his posting in New York in July 2023.
Ambassador Larsen is a senior career officer with DFAT. Prior to his appointment, he was Deputy Secretary for Environment, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. He has previously served overseas as Ambassador to Türkiye (2014-2017); Ambassador to Israel (2006-2010); Counsellor, Australian Embassy, Brussels (2001-2004); and Second Secretary, Australian Embassy, Bangkok (1994-1997).
In Canberra, he served as Climate Coordinator/Deputy Secretary, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (2-11/2021); Chief Legal Officer, DFAT (2017-2020); Principal Adviser, Minister for Foreign Affairs (2012-2013); Ambassador for People Smuggling Issues, DFAT (2010-2012); Assistant Secretary and Legal Adviser, Legal Branch, DFAT (2004-2006); and Director, Administration and Domestic Law Section, DFAT (1998-2000).
Ambassador Larsen holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor or Laws, University of Melbourne (1987).
The American Australian Association is proud to partner with The Greatest Generations Foundation on veterans’ initiatives.
The mission of The Greatest Generations Foundation is to render closure to veterans, including those with combat stress reaction (CSR), by facilitating therapeutic return programs to their former battlefields and memorials to ensure that the legacies of our fallen are recorded and retold in perpetuity to future generations.
Their return programs to the battlefields of Vietnam justifies the timeless principles of peace and justice by raising awareness of the selfless courage all Vietnam veterans exercised when they answered the call to help defend the ideals of our nation, in hopes that future generations will never forget their sacrifices and those who were left behind.
