Always Remember
How often do Canadians think about the men and women who’ve served and currently serve keeping all citizens safe, secure and at peace?
Once every year on November 11? Perhaps twice if counting Canada Day in July?
Two minutes of silence is taken to the reflect on the incredible sacrifices made to
secure freedom. People gather at local and national monuments and cenotaphs. News coverage of veterans and reminders of the importance to share stories of past generations with the current and future ones.
With November 11th only a few days past, and with Christmas coming soon, let’s work as a collective to keep all of our service men and woman and their families top of mind. This Canada, today’s Canada, would not exist as is if not for all of the soldiers, sons and daughters who volunteered to march on the front lines, fly fighter jets over enemy territories, help the wounded and sick in make shift bases, sail ships to faraway places and leave all and everything they had ever known behind.
Currently, all Canadian Armed Forces members including reservists, special or elite operations teams have a duty to protect and serve the citizens of Canada and the world. Wars are happening all over the globe and the military has been or is involved in someway with most of them. These are the people who would and do die for you. They lose their life in order to save others. That might be something to think about for more than two minutes once a year.
Everyday, civilian's also put their life at risk to help others. Doctors and nurses take oaths promising to deliver medical attention to anyone in need without bias or judgement regardless of differences. Firefighters literally walk into burning buildings to ensure human safety. Police respond as quickly as possible to disturbance and distress calls, crimes and accidents never knowing what they find until on scene. Paramedics come, assess, treat and transport individuals with emergent medical needs to hospitals working perilously to remain with patients ensuring safe delivery to a medical team. Border Patrol Officers, Correctional Workers, Security Guards all work in dangerous situations daily. Professionals working hard to handle and control violence, trafficking and crime. Of course, this list is not exhaustive. The work and stress these professionals deal with gives the common citizen peace of mind, security and the knowledge that help can be on the way in a matter of minutes.
Being born in Canada is a privilege. Canadian citizens are guaranteed certain rights and freedoms written into law. For example, freedom of religion, of thought, of expression, of the press and of peaceful assembly. Democratic rights, mobility rights, legal rights and human rights. The right to leave, stay in and return to Canada at anytime. These freedoms are not available or ever attainable for every citizens of the world. Countless countries and nations do not subscribe to the same beliefs and freedoms as Canada does. Canadians have everything available to them in the security net of this great nation. More often than not, this is taken for granted. From now through Christmas and beyond, find a way to thank someone who has dedicated themselves to helping and protecting others. Keeping them in your thoughts and giving them the gift of gratitude is priceless.