I feel blessed to be able to participate in today's beautiful Remembrance Day ceremony. With grateful hearts we laid wreaths at the Cenotaph and together as one community said Thank You to our veterans for their service and sacrifice.
If you'd like, below is the speech I prepared for today - and I would like to share it with you.
*Remembrance Day November 11th 2021*
Thank you Reverend. Distinguished Guests. Honoured Veterans.
Let me begin by recognizing that we are meeting on the traditional and unceded territory of the Three Fires Confederacy of First Nations: the Odawa; the Ojibwa and the Potawatomi.
In the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill is the Memorial Chamber – a room carved out of stone - with eight books that contain the names of 120,000 Canadian men and women who gave their lives in the service of their country.
Many of them came from homes and farms in Tecumseh and Windsor and Essex County.
Many died far from home. Far from their families.
But they are not far from us.
Every 11th of November - we remember them.
Today we join the more than 2,000 cities, towns and villages across our great nation gathering to pay tribute to the men and women of our armed forces with prayers, dedications and a moment of silence.
In that silence we remember the more than two-million-three-hundred-thousand Canadians who served our nation and those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
This year marks several important anniversaries.
The 105th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme – that saw over 24,000 Canadian casualties.
The 70th anniversary of the Battle of Kapyong in the Korean War – a defining moment for Canada’s military, where Canadian soldiers held back wave after wave of enemy attacks on Hill 677.
The 10th anniversary of the end of Canada’s combat mission in Afghanistan.
And so today, I think of Corporal Andrew Grenon who gave his life at age 23 – and I reflect on his life, his courage, his sacrifice.
And I think of my Grandpa Ron – who served with the 8th Canadian Hussars. I remember standing next to him at the Flags of Remembrance Ceremony by the river.
I remember the Quilt of Valour Ceremony at Riverside Branch 255.
He would have been here today. He is still with us today - in our hearts.
This year is also the 100th anniversary of the Poppy Campaign that continues to support so many veterans and their families.
As we stand here today, let us rededicate ourselves to stand on guard for them, and stand on guard for the peace and freedom they paid for with their service and their sacrifice.
And even as we take a moment to remember and say Thank You during these ceremonies – let us also commit to talk to our veterans.
Listen to their stories of courage. Develop a deeper understanding of our shared history as Canadians. For that is part of our heritage that has been passed down – that is part of the vow we make today.
“To you from failing hands we throw the torch be yours to hold it high”
To veterans here in Canada, and around the world, we say thank you.
And as grateful Canadians we pledge to hold in our hearts the eternal words: We Will Remember Them.
