But Legacy Australia chairman David Gray says the form that acknowledgment may take is still open for debate.

The news – which comes on the eve of Legacy Week – follows a call by a senior military official for a monument dedicated to veterans' families to be erected at the War Memorial.

Writing in The Canberra Times on Monday, Major-General Stephen Day argued that the silent service of diggers' forgotten families should be acknowledged with by a shrine at the national memorial.

General Day said returned military personnel were recognised by the government and public through medals, memorials and commemoration days. "[But] our families wear no uniform, they have no medals, there are no memorials to them. There should be," he wrote.

Mr Gray said Legacy Australia – which supports about 90,000 families of defence personnel who have given their lives or their health for their country – fully supported the concept.

He said the effects of war lingered long after the conflict finished, and that burden was also carried by the families of veterans.

"The families are there in the background, giving support; they're the unsung heroes I guess," Mr Gray said.

"I think it would be good to recognise the fact the families are always there, not only during the war, but also to support the service men and woman when they come back.

"There should be some recognition for the sacrifice of the families and the fact it never changes, it will be there forever. Every time there's a conflict, the same sacrifice will be given by the families."

A spokesman for the memorial said it agreed with the proposal, but did not have the funds to construct the tribute.

Mr Gray said raising funds for the project would not be an issue. Instead, he said, the great question was what form the acknowledgment should take.

"The money issue, I would like to think, will look after itself, I'd be fairly confident we could get the funding," Mr Gray said.

"It's about getting the appropriateness of such a monument right.

"[It doesn't necessarily need to be a monument], recognition can be done in all sorts of ways … [as long as it is] some sort of everlasting recognition."

Legacy Week runs from Sunday, August 31 to September 6, 2014. To donate or to volunteer, visit legacy.com.au or call 1800 534 229.