This weekend will mark 100 years since the end of the First World War and the beginning of Remembrance Day (formerly Armistice Day) ceremonies to honour those who died to protect the freedoms countries such as Canada enjoy. While it was often referred to as the war to end all wars, we know that was unfortunately not the case and Canadian soldiers have fought and died in numerous conflicts since then, including the devastating Second World War. Over the past 100 years and including the First World War, more than 100,000 Canadian soldiers have been killed in conflicts and more than 200,000 were wounded. In Afghanistan, 158 soldiers were killed and another 1,800 injured. World wide and factoring in civilians, the number of war-related deaths since the First World War is horrific, equaling more than 100 million. The toll of war has been high and the number of fatalities and wounded, though brutal, do not tell the whole story. What those numbers fail to relay are the hundreds of thousands of family members, friends and community members left to grieve those who gave their lives. The casualty tolls also miss the number of veterans suffering from mental health issues – some 16 per cent – and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – 5.8 per cent – as a result of serving in conflict zones. Since 1976, nearly 2,000 Canadian soldiers have died by suicide and 54 of them served in Afghanistan, a conflict that has resulted in a spike of reported cases of PTSD among veterans. While some might question the importance of continuing the Remembrance Day tradition, it is vital that we continue to take time to remember those who died trying to protect our country and free others from oppression. Beyond that, it's also important to recognize and honour those who survived and who will for their lifetimes be burdened by the horrors of war. Aside from honouring those who died, Remembrance Day should also serve as a reminder of those who are still alive and in need of our help. Unfortunately, after returning home, many veterans become lost in the system. In 2014, the federal government had estimated that nearly 3,000 veterans were homeless and in June 2017, Veteran Affairs had 750 homeless veterans listed in its data base – but expected many more had not reported. With that in mind, we can't limit our actions to one day a year as a one-off feel good moment of paying our respects. It is important to recognize that there are hundreds of veterans and families of veterans who are struggling to cope with the affects of war. Fortunately there are things we can do to help. Whether it's contributing to the local branch of the Canadian Legion or the Veterans Food Bank in Calgary or the many other charities across the nation working to help veterans, or lobbying our government for better services and aid, there are many things we can do to help all year. Lest we forget should not solely refer to the wars and those who died, but also to those still living and who might need our aid.
