Tisdale’s Cenotaph Park at 11:00 A.M., Friday, November 11, 2011
No one will forget
Tisdale - Friday, November 11, 2011
Canadians, young, very old, newcomers, those who have been here for generations and First Nations people who have been here since the beginning of time, all know and appreciate what it means to be Canadian. Every one of us know in our hearts that we have problems that need to be worked on and we know that sometimes as a society we take a few steps forward and then stumble backward a step or two, but the basic fundamentals are sound and on November 11 each year, we salute those who served this country in wars, peace keeping missions and conflicts around the world on our behalf. Many did not come home alive and we will not forget them, or what they did on our behalf. Some were not even soldiers, sailors or airmen, but were nurses, diplomats, humanitarian volunteers and some like the Canadian staff in Haiti were just there doing their job for Canada, when tragedy struck. Today, we remember them.
Though a thousand Canadian military instructors are still in theatre in Afghanistan and our sailors and emergency military responders are on the job, Canada is now at peace. This is the first time in a very long time that this has been the case. Ten long years of a seemingly pointless war in Afghanistan saw our country shoulder its responsibility and try to make a difference. While doing so, 158 died and hundreds more injured severely. Today, we remember them.
Let us resolve to carry out our responsibility, as a society, to support and look after the injured, those suffering from the anxiety of their war experience and let us not stand idly by while government or bureaucrats fail to provide for these our veterans and their families. For today, we remember them.
