Our Duty to Remember

November 02, 2009

Ottawa Journal (November 02 – November 06, 2009)
David Tilson, M.P. (Dufferin-Caledon)


On November 11th, we remember the generations of Canada’s best and brightest who have answered the call of duty and served our country. From World War I, when Canada first proved our strength and determination as a young nation, to our work in Kandahar and around the globe today, the constant has always been the courage and sacrifice of our brave men and women in uniform.

For the rest of us, whose freedom is rooted in the sacrifice of both the past and present generations, it is our duty to remember. This is why, on Remembrance Day in communities across Canada, thousands of families will stand before memorials to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of Canada.

Each Canadian standing in the cold November morning will have personal memories — some shared, some private — of those who we pause to remember: the grandparents and great-grandparents who crossed oceans to fight on the front lines of Europe to break the grip of tyranny; the sons and daughters who stood between an unsteady peace and the renewed spark of conflict; and the husbands, wives, brothers, and sisters who work each day to bring peace and stability to war-torn Afghanistan. We also remember those here at home who make their own sacrifice, as they support family members deployed across the country and around the world.

On November 11th we remember these Canadians, past and present, for their courage, their sacrifice, and their defence of Canadian values.

I will be spending Remembrance Day in Passchendaele, Belgium, where more than 4,000 Canadians died at this site and almost 12,000 were wounded during World War One. While there, I will have the honour and privilege of laying a wreath consisting of pins and ribbons from the various Legions found throughout Dufferin-Caledon. Here at home, I hope that you will take part in a Remembrance ceremony, whether it be at a cenotaph or from home, to remember and honour our country's finest.

On behalf of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Canadian Government, I want to thank those who have served and who continue to serve our great country.
Lest we forget.