Remembrance Day Service

November 11, 2009

Good morning…distinguished guests… ladies and gentlemen…boys and girls…and thank you, everyone, for coming out today to honour the memories of the brave men and women who gave their lives as members of the Canadian Armed Forces.

I think Remembrance Day represents something a bit different for each Canadian.

For those who have lost loved ones to war, I'm sure that it's a bittersweet day, a time to mourn the loss of a dear friend or family member but also a time to take comfort in the fact that their memory is being honoured by a grateful nation.

For people of my generation, this is often a time to reflect on a period in our history when the basic rights and freedoms we enjoy as Canadians came under attack, when Albertans enlisted by the tens of thousands to serve in Europe and the Pacific and far too many died on those battlefields in the name of peace and democracy.

Others among us have been deeply affected by losses during the Korean conflict or through more recent events like the war in Afghanistan.

Regardless of these different experiences, there is one thing that should unite all Canadians, and that is the fact that the remarkable way of life we are privileged to enjoy, the way of life that Canadians have died to protect, must never be taken for granted.

We can remember their sacrifices by coming together for annual ceremonies like this and we can remember year round through our daily acts and attitudes.

We honour the principles they died for with every effort we make to enhance the welcoming and diverse nature of our communities, with every stand we take, large or small, against fear, oppression and discrimination and with every act we offer as strong, thoughtful and engaged citizens.

In short, we can remember the sacrifice of fallen Canadians everyday by serving as grateful and careful guardians of the way of life they died to protect.

We can honour them by ensuring that freedom, peace and democracy remain the cornerstones of our great country.

Again, thank you for coming out today and for everything you do to keep the spirit of remembrance alive throughout the year.