Remembrance Day, November 11, is fast approaching and as each day goes by it is more and more important to mark this day, as there are fewer veterans to share their stories and experiences with us.
Those stories that make you appreciate the strength and courage demonstrated by the once young men. The mental images that you try to shake after hearing a veteran tell of what they went through and what they witnessed while away from their families and friends.
No matter where the ceremony, how big or how small, the message is still the same.
We gather to remember the sacrifices made by soldiers in two World Wars, the Korean War and in dozens of other conflicts and peacekeeping missions all over the world.
Most importantly we gather to show our gratitude for our freedom, which we owe to those who risked and gave their lives to defend those of us that could not fight for ourselves.
Remembrance Day is the day we pay tribute to those soldiers. It's the day we honour the bravery of those still with us and the sacrifice made by fallen heroes - both past and present.
More then one and a half million Canadians have served in our armed forces in times of war. More then 120,000 have died in battle.
This Remembrance Day will again have us remembering the lives that have been lost as soldiers continue to fight in Afghanistan. The war in Iraq and other conflicts in the Middle East provides us with daily reminders that war and peace will be a continuous battle.
We owe a great debt to those who fought on our behalf and one can only wish that a day might come when we won't have to ask another generation of young men and women to give the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
Until then - lest we forget.
- Pam Snow
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