Mr. Speaker, during World War I, among a field of fallen soldiers, simple bright red flowers with a black centre began to appear.
However simple, the red poppy symbolism is powerful, representing the remembrance of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, those heroes who volunteered to stand against our enemies, valiantly fighting for our freedoms and for their love of our country. So many made the ultimate sacrifice, unselfishly giving up the life they were living and the life they would have lived, so that Canadians would be secure to prosper in this great nation. Culminating Veterans' Week on Remembrance Day, the red poppy will once again unify the nation by showing these fallen heroes are not forgotten.
In my riding of Yorkton—Melville and across Canada, wreaths will be laid to commemorate Canada's fallen. As Canadians, we can never thank these soldiers and their families enough.
God bless the families of our fallen, God bless our servicemen and women, God bless Canada.