In many ways, peace is like air. You can’t see it or smell it or touch it. You take it for granted as it allows you to live. It may go un-noticed and unappreciated until it begins to slip away. You may hardly even notice it … until it’s gone.
Many of us have lived our lives under a warm, peaceful, prosperous blanket that was knitted by men and women who fought for us long before we were born. Every day we enjoy the trappings and luxuries inherent in living in a democratic society that was ensured to us by our ancestors and protected by our uniformed countrymen and women. While we are taught of their sacrifices we must also know how important it is to remember – to never forget how brave they were then and are now in defending this country against those who would do us harm. As the swell of time carries us increasingly far away from those harrowing moments in history where Canadians stormed the beaches in Normandy and fought at Vimy Ridge we may lose touch with what it really means to benefit from the toils of others, but we must remember.
To the thousands who have lost their lives battling for this country we salute you, we thank you, we remember.
To the thousands who have lost loved ones for our safety we salute you, we thank you, we remember.
To the families torn apart by distance in pursuit of peace and security we salute you, we thank you, we remember
To those who give yourself in military service for this country we salute you, we thank you, we remember.
IN FLANDERS FIELDS
By Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks still bravely singing fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead: Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved: and now we lie
In Flanders fields!
Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you, from failing hands, we throw
The torch: be yours to hold it high
If ye break faith with us who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields
Composed at the battlefront on May 3, 1915
