Plans had been in place months before. Invitations had gone out, and the guest speaker organised.
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But when the coronavirus pandemic forced the government to introduce restrictions, it meant Armidale's Anzac Day services could not go ahead. It was same all around the country.
Despite that, Armidale's RSL sub branch president Max Tavener said there was only one disappointment.
"The real disappointment was there was nowhere we could go for lunch, or have a drink and reminisce," he said.
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At the time the dawn service is normally held, Mr Taverner was at the cenotaph in Central Park, with five other people, as wreaths were laid and Bruce Myers played The Last Post.
Mr Myers was not the only bugler. Mr Tavener said he also heard The Last Post coming from the lookout on North Hill, and another from the direction of the railway.
Meanwhile, around Armidale, residents paused to remember at the end of their driveways, which was encouraged as a nationwide act, in this time of social distancing.
Among them were residents in Dorothy Ave, where much of the street was lined up.
"We had good turnout on Dorothy Avenue (thanks) to the efforts of Bob and Jan Holloway and Nea Baker," resident Ian Metcalfe said.
A letter box drop before the day encouraged them to join the dawn candlelight vigil.
"We marked Anzac Day with a quiet socially distanced reflection with gratitude to all those who gave their lives and served in our armed forces to preserve our wonderful democratic way of life."
Mr Tavener had decided against staying at home.
"I could have stood at the end of my driveway, but I thought 'no, we've got the cenotaph in Central Park'," Mr Tavener said.
Over the course of the morning, more people arrived to add to the wreaths around the cenotaph's fountain.
Then between 10 and 11am, almost 20 ex-service men and women were at the cenotaph. Mr Tavener was among them again, as was Mr Myers and his rendition of The Last Post.
At 11am the bells tolled at the Anglican cathedral.
They all did the best they could this year, and Mr Tavener said they were now looking ahead to Remembrance Day, and added that next year's Anzac Day would also help make up for what they could not do this year.
"It's on a Sunday (next year) and all the schools will be back. It will be huge," he said.
