It's a long way from the depths of a Canberra winter to the iron harvest of Flanders' fields but that's the journey that will be on Merrin Boyer's mind when she speaks at the national launch of Legacy Week at the Australian War Memorial on Monday.
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The 24-year-old Canberra Institute of Technology student from Coombs lost her father, Brigadier Rohan Boyer, in 2010.
Legacy came to the party in the wake of his death, assisting Ms Boyer and her younger brother, Matthew, with practical and emotional support.
In July this year Ms Boyer was one of 76 junior legatees from across Australia who travelled to France and Belgium to reflect on the Australian sacrifices on the Western Front in 1916, 1917 and 1918.
The Boyers have a direct link to the war in France and Belgium through Harry Rewa Bugle, who served with the Australian engineers, was killed in action and is buried near Ypres.
"I visited his grave; he was in his early 20s – younger than I am now," Ms Boyer said. "Something that really struck me was the amount of young men who were killed over there. Some of them were just 16 years old.
"It puts things into perspective; it makes me think how easy our generation actually has it [by comparison]. We've got a lot to remember and be thankful for."
Ms Boyer would like to see more emphasis on the Western Front in lessons on World War I history in schools: "You get a lot about the gallantry and heroism at Gallipoli but not a lot about this."
Her most moving moment was standing in a freshly ploughed field near the famous windmill site at Pozieres.
The site was bought by the Australian government after the war at the instigation of official war historian, Charles Bean.
"The windmill site marks a ridge more densely sown with Australian sacrifice than any other place on Earth," Bean wrote.
Almost 7000 Australians were killed there over a seven-week period in 1916.
"I had picked up a piece of shrapnel [part of the iron harvest that is turned up by French and Belgian farmers every year]," Ms Boyer said. "It was at that moment I realised I really needed to help give back for the people who gave so much for us.
"I want to be there [through Legacy] for younger kids who have lost a parent. I will carry the torch of Legacy with me into the future."
Monday's launch will be attended by Defence Minister Senator Marise Payne, Amanda Rishworth MP, Veterans Affairs Minister Dan Tehan, chief of defence force Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin and AWM director Dr Brendan Nelson
Over the following days hundreds of veterans, Legacy members, students and community volunteers will sell badges to raise money for the organisation.
Canberra's Legacy branch was established in 1928 and has more than 200 active members or Legatees. It assists more than 1200 service widows and more than 30 junior legatees including Ms Boyer and her brother.
