Her name is Julieanne and she is on a peacekeeping mission in the Solomon Islands as an Australian Army reservist.

It will be the first service that I have someone else, other than Pop Fenech and Pop Shelton, to think about when the Last Post sounds in Picton.

They both served during World War II and every year I attend these services to pay respect to them and their mates who died overseas.

But while the day has always been close to my heart, this year will feel more real having a friend so young in service.

I love my grandparents but until now it has been hard to think of them as young men at war, it seems so long ago. But with my 25-year-old friend overseas I realise what it was like for the family and friends of my two pops during WWII.

Of course there are many differences between the conditions on the battlefields of Europe and the jungles of Borneo compared to where Julieanne is now.

But to feel what it's like to have someone I care about serving their country in a dangerous place is a new experience for me. Along with the concern comes pride, knowing she has left her life here in Australia to protect the people of the Solomons.

She will miss her birthday, Christmas and Easter away from family and friends, to help people she has never met.

It just shows the things we read about generation Y aren't always true and that there are young people today willing to put others before themselves.

I hope that next Wednesday all our local veterans are in Picton at 11am for the Remembrance Day service, including the soldiers who have served in recent wars.

It's important that we acknowledge all of them and thank them for being so brave and serving our country.

As the Last Post sounds this Remembrance Day I will say a prayer for my grandparents and for my beautiful friend Julieanne who is much braver than I could ever be.