Every year as Remembrance Day approaches, our thoughts are drawn to the sacred memories of Fallen comrades, past and present. It is a contemplative time, a time of sorrow, a time of respect and a time of honour.
Our universal reverence must never waiver for those who sacrificed their lives, protecting the oppressed and disadvantaged. It is by virtue of these valiant lives lost, that those who follow have been gifted with freedom and opportunity.
We are also mindful that our time with our Second World War and Korean War veterans is waning, as their age progresses and health fails. The men and women of these generations are grounded by principles of duty, service and sacrifice for those less fortunate. Their quiet humility and commitment to community service reflect qualities we all wish to instill in future generations.
In present day terms, our thoughts reflect upon the losses of one hundred thirty-one members of the Canadian Forces and a diplomat who served in Afghanistan. Whether serving in Canada or abroad, our military proudly stands with other allied nations to defend shared values, protect democracy, secure troubled areas and offer humanitarian relief with the highest of standards. As we honour the memory of these men and women, our heartfelt sentiments are with their loved ones.
The time will soon come when our youth will take up the torch and continue this proud legacy of Remembrance in their communities. One can visualize, in the not too distant future, when our young people will surround Cenotaphs on Remembrance Day, expressing solemn gratitude for all that they have been given, through the service of our veterans, past and present.
Let us together, preserve the legacies of our most distinguished predecessors, our veterans, for it is they who have given us a proud, noble heritage, revered around the world. Let us seize this time to engage young people with veterans in learning about our place in history. Let us stand together in our resolve to guide the teachings about the importance of Remembrance.
Remembrance, summons each generation to understand the finest of Canadian values … ...freedom, democracy, human dignity and caring for the greater good of mankind. These lessons can only be learned as we stand in the symbolic shadows of our veterans, know the ideals for which they sacrificed and pay homage to their legacies. We must never fail to comprehend the magnitude of duty, service and sacrifice, as it defines us as a nation and as a people.
Remember and Bear Witness
Lest We Forget
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