Mr. Speaker, November is a month for veterans and many veterans organizations like the Legions are struggling.
I am reminded of the poem “The Veteran”, which speaks this truth: “It is the veteran, not the preacher who has given us freedom of religion. It is the veteran, not the reporter who has given us freedom of the press. It is the veteran, not the poet who has given us freedom of speech. It is the veteran, not the campus organizer who has given us freedom to assemble. It is the veteran, not the lawyer who has given us the right to a fair trial. It is the veteran, not the politician who has given us the right to vote”.
We owe a debt that can never be repaid to veterans whose sacrifices and courage gave us our freedoms. I encourage Canadians from coast to coast to coast to give what they can to support our veterans and to support our Legions. Please buy and wear a poppy to remember and honour our veterans, and buy a mask from the Legions as well.
Lest we forget.