REMEMBRANCE DAY: Nov. 11, 2014
Each one of us, and many others across the country and around the world, are wearing the Poppy of Remembrance today.
Because of the recent deaths of two Canadian soldiers, Cirillo and Vincent, And because this is the centenary of the beginning of the Great War (which also became known as the First World War), most of us are more attentive to remembrance this year than perhaps we have been in years past.
So what, you might ask, have we forgotten?
Certainly not the SACRIFICE made by those who laid down their lives for King and Country;
Certainly not the COURAGE of our men and women at-arms.
Certainly not the TRAINING and DISCIPLINE that our Canadian Troops have brought to Policing or Peacekeeping in Korea, Cyprus, and other hotspots where they have been called as part of United Nations and NATO efforts.
And most recently we have not forgotten to honour those who died in the Afghanistan conflict, who were remembered as their bodies travelled along Hwy 401 from CFB Trenton to Toronto – the “Highway of Heroes”.
NO, we have not forgotten to honour the individuals who paid the ultimate price!
But we HAVE largely forgotten to honour that which they have won for us:
Our “rights” to freedom of religion: to choose not only HOW we worship Our Higher Power (and what we choose to name that Power), or, even if we choose NOT!
Our “rights” to freedom of assembly: that we might gather together to pursue personal, professional, business, or community actions for the good of society.
Our “rights” to vote: to choose freely our representatives in local councils, in Provincial and Federal parliaments.
Our “rights” to freedom of speech: To be heard by our peers and by our leaders, even if we do not agree with them, perhaps especially if we don’t!
Canada’s continued participation in the quest for Peace-and-Justice during the past 70 years has largely fallen upon the shoulders of the members of our Armed Forces.
Significantly VOLUNTEER, not conscripted!
The nature of these conflicts has changed, and those men and women, too, have paid a price, not only in the deaths of their comrades, in the field, but also in wounds to body, mind and spirit.
Physical wounds are visible, and so can be treated. Canada’s health system has provided excellent physiotherapy, and prosthetics to injured veterans.
Wounds to mind and spirit are much harder to see and much more difficult to remedy.
I for one, could not finish reading Romeo Dallaire’s memoir Shake hands with the Devil, and even today as a respected member of our Senate, he continues to struggle with PTSD.
For too many others, the battle with PTSD has ended only with suicide.
James Dugan noted on Sunday in his Sermon that suicides of Afghanistan vets now exceed the number of battle fatalities.**
Our Government has continued to cut funding to the Ministry of Veteran’s Affairs, including removing Service Offices.
Like many other members of the Royal Canadian Legion, I claim my right to dissent against this action, both with my voice and a letter to my MP and with the promise of my vote to the party that would restore that funding to the people and programs it has supported!
I do so, immeasurably thankful to those who have served to keep Canada free, and Canadians safe: the men and women of our Army, Navy and Airforce, as well as our Coast Guard, and Police and Fire Departments, indeed, all those whose work for us requires duty and discipline.
I invite you to add thanksgiving to your solemn REMEMBRANCE this day.
Let us leave this time and place today, knowing again WHY we honour these men and women.
