Mr. Speaker, across Canada we join in thanks to our veterans. From Vimy Ridge to Passchendaele, to Sicily, Juno Beach, the battle for Hill 355, the efforts in Kandahar and all the countless acts of bravery in battle that are too numerous to list, I say thank you. It is because of their strength, their courage, their sacrifices that we enjoy our freedoms, our democracy and our way of life.
A couple of years ago, I was given a poem that I would like to share with this Parliament. While we politicians have a fault of taking credit for too much, this poem serves to remind us of who truly deserves praise.
It is the Soldier
It is the soldier, not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the campus organizer,
who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier, not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the soldier,
who salutes the flag,
who serves under the flag,
and whose coffin is draped by the flag,
who allows the protester to burn the flag.
On Remembrance Day and every day, let us never forget who gave themselves so we may always be free.