Mr. Speaker, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs it is indeed my pleasure to recognize that today, November 5, is the first day of Veterans Week.
Next Monday, on Remembrance Day, we will, quite rightly, pay homage to the men and women who have served our country in uniform. And well we should. In a century of service, over 100,000 Canadian veterans have literally shed their life's blood on foreign shores. In war and in the preservation of peace, their collective sacrifice has been incalculable.
Canadians repay this huge debt of gratitude through the act of remembrance. Once again, during Veterans Week and certainly on Remembrance Day, November 11, we will be called upon to honour that debt, certainly by going to Remembrance Day services, but just as important perhaps, by spending a little time talking to others, our children especially, about the real sacrifices made by our veterans.
These sacrifices were made yesterday, they will be made today and they will be made tomorrow. We shall be forever grateful. We shall never forget.