In the shadow of a red-lit Elephant Rock, Currumbin RSL president Ron Workman summed up the sacrifice of Australia's servicemen and women in seven words.
"All gave some. Some gave their all."
Mr Workman's words were delivered at the beachside Anzac Day dawn service on the Gold Coast which has become one of the best attended in regional Queensland.
Dignitaries including former prime minister Tony Abbott and members of the Queensland Police Service were among the huge estimated crowd of 15,000.
Tuesday's commemoration honoured service past and present, with a company of 12 light horsemen leading veterans into the service.
The horsemen remained mounted throughout, their presence marking the centenary of Australia's successful cavalry charge in the World War One Battle of Beersheba.
Daniel Farrell was of Tuesday's light horesmen, his replica WWI uniform bearing the medals his great-uncle John David Ryan earned while serving with the 11th Light Horse from 1915-19.
"He was over there for four and a half years in Israel, Palestine and Gallipoli so it's an honour to be here today for him really," Mr Farrell told AAP.
The service also included a flyover involving a Vietnam-era Iroquois helicopter and the now-traditional burial at sea ceremony where local rowing crews scattered the ashes of 34 veterans and their family members on the waves.
American Elmer Lea, who served alongside Australian troops in the Gulf War, has been a regular at the Currumbin service since moving to the Gold Coast in 2003.
The Texan, who is now an RSL member, says Anzac Day has come to mean as much to him as to his Australian and New Zealand friends.
"When you've got the helicopters and planes flying over - the sun's breaking through - it makes you emotional," Mr Lea told AAP.
"Makes you understand what happened with the Anzacs when they went over and also that Anzac spirit. It's great."
