Ten-year-old Max George attends the Anzac Day dawn service in Perth every year with his six-year-old brother and parents in honour of his ancestors.
His dad's great-uncle was Jim Gordon, who received the Victoria Cross in World War Two.
Max has been learning about Anzac Day at school for the past five years and proudly did an art assignment on William Dargie, who won an Archibald prize for painting Corporal Gordon.
Max's mum said they had also lost family on the Kokoda trail so Anzac Day was significant to commemorate.
"I think it's pretty important for the kids to get an understanding of our history," she told AAP.
"It's a big part of Australian culture and they're quite interested in the armed forces anyway.
"It's important to relive those stories and pass them down because our grandparents have passed now, so it's up to us to forward those stories on."
Premier Mark McGowan, who served in the Australian Navy, delivered the dawn service address.
He began by acknowledging the history of the war memorial, which was unveiled in 1929, and the first parents to visit and remember their sons lost in a faraway land.
"They remembered seeing him sail away, never to hold, never to speak to, never to kiss, never to see again," he said.
"They will never forget the brief, grim telegram that told them of his death.
"Their grief and tears are soaked into the ground beneath our feet."
Mr McGowan also paid tribute to modern veterans and their families, noting 58,000 Australians had served overseas since 1999.
He singled out then 19-year-old Liam Haven who had been serving in Iraq for six months in 2008 when shrapnel from a roadside bomb damaged his eyes.
"He lost his sight and very nearly his life," Mr McGowan said.
"Since then, he has worked on welfare measures and in mental health support for other modern veterans just like him.
"His service didn't end when he left the battlefield. I've never met a more inspirational or courageous person."
Mr McGowan also recognised the Australian service people currently overseas.
An estimated crowd of about 30,000 people attended the dawn service and WA Governor Kim Beazley was among the dignitaries.
