A national welcome-home parade was held yesterday at the Australian War Memorial to formally mark the end of Operation Catalyst and to honour troops described by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd as ''our Anzacs of today''.

Brigadier Brian Dawson who served in Iraq from 2007 to 2008 as the Deputy Commander of Joint Task Force 633 said the parade was a chance for the nation to reflect on the commitment of the nation's armed forces.

''It's important we mark the end of the operation in Iraq with the ceremony,'' he said. ''There have already been ceremonies around the country... but this is intended to cover all the different operations and personnel over an extended period.

''It is nice to draw a line under the period with an event to remember.''

The end of Operation Catalyst in which Australia contributed to the stabilisation and rehabilitation of Iraq from July 2003 to July 2009 was marked by the nation's political and military leaders, with Mr Rudd, Defence Minister John Faulkner and Governor-General Quentin Bryce attending the parade.

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