Remembrance Day is a time to reflect on the past and present sacrifices of our men and women in uniform, some of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, to defend our rights and freedoms and have made it possible for us to live in a peaceful, democratic nation.
It is a time to pause and reflect on over 100,000 Canadians throughout our history who have paid this ultimate sacrifice during missions and conflicts and over a million men and women who have served our country throughout the world, to protect our way of life.
As we continue to stand up for democracy, freedom and the rule of law, we must never forget these past sacrifices, and provide future generations with a deeper understanding of the lessons of history.
We must teach them that our freedom was not free, and that it was paid for through the sacrifices of generations of brave soldiers.
Many of us personally know those who have served our nation. We have friends, neighbours, relatives, coworkers or ancestors who have helped to build the way of life we cherish. In my case, my great-grandfather, Edgar Haydon Mumford served as a Sapper in the First Depot Battalion – Alberta Regiment of the Canadian Railway Troops during World War I, and my grandfather,
Robert Melvin Richards, served in the Royal Canadian Air Force as a Leading Aircraftman during World War II. I know many of you have relatives who have also served, and it is our duty to share those connections with our fellow Canadians.
This Remembrance Day, I hope you will join me in honouring these brave men and women who fought in the First and Second World Wars, the Korean War, in Afghanistan, and other recent missions to protect what we hold dear.
To those who have served our country, and those who continue to serve, we as Canadians can never thank you enough for your sacrifice.
“At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.”
For more information, please contact Blake Richards, M.P., at (613) 996-5152
