Mr. Speaker, April 9, 2007, will mark the 90th anniversary of Vimy Ridge. On this date in 1917, 30,000 Canadian soldiers stood in the line of fire to defend and protect our great nation. Attacking at dawn, Canadians had taken Vimy Ridge by noon.
A mission tried and failed by many, this was the first time in Canadian history that four Canadian divisions fought simultaneously. In fact, on April 12, 1917, Canadians controlled the entire ridge.
This victory is one that Canadians hold dear to their hearts and has helped shed the yoke of British imperialism.
The price: 3,598 men were killed while 7,104 were wounded.
The outcome: freedom, democracy and rule of law, to say the least.
The words of Brigadier General A.E. Ross say it best: “In those few minutes I witnessed the birth of a nation”.
Let us all remember these brave souls, as well as the brave men and women of today's Canadian Forces, who carry on with the same courage and honour as their brothers who fought at Vimy Ridge.