Each year we take time on November 11th, Remembrance Day, to pay respect to those who gave their lives in defence of our country.

The depth of sacrifice  can only be  truly appreciated when you  are reminded that in World War 1,  fully a third of the young men of western Canada died or were wounded .

It was carnage of our young, many  their late teens,  who would die before they really had a chance to  live.

The second world war was no different, as tens of thousands  were mowed down on the beaches of Normandy. Those who survived faced peril at every  turn,  many more would not come home,  and many more who did, carried the physical and emotional scars for the rest of their lives.

The tragedy continued in Korea,  Afghanistan and  those who  served under the Canadian flag  on  peace keeping duties.   So many families torn by the loss of loved ones,  or  at a loss when their loved one returned forever changed by  their experiences.

On this day we owe our respect to all the men and women who have given their all , too often so very  young, but who gave their lives in the interest of  freedom, in the interest of protecting  our way of life.

Today we will bow our heads and  spend a minute or two  in solemn silence to reflect on those sacrifices.  One day a year, and a minute or two of silence, seems such a small  gesture  to  say thank you.

They deserve all the honour and respect that we can bestow on them.

Lest We Forget