Remembrance Day 2008

November 11, 2008

It is my honour to be here today in my home town of Fort McMurray representing the Government of Canada, Honourable Greg Thompson, Minister of Veteran’s Affairs, and the Prime Minister of Canada.

Today, on the 90th anniversary of the end of the First World War, we take time to remember those who worked, fought, died, and made tremendous sacrifices to keep Canada safe.

It was on the battlefields of Europe 90 years ago that ordinary Canadians accomplished extraordinary things. And it was on those battlefields that the courage of these remarkable men and women came to define the Canada we know today - a nation strong, free and proud.

This is a day to respect all those who gave of themselves for
    Freedom
    Duty
    Love of Country
    And a better life for future Canadians.

Including:
Edward Auger
Bobbie Brooks
Ernest Frank Clarke
Robert Hamilton
Thorlief Hansen
David Walter Hill
Baptiste Huppie
Norman Huser
Gordon Johnson
Charlie Laboucan
Frederick Lessoway
Loyal Lewis
Howard Mein
F. Patrick O’Coffey
Edgar Richard
Gordon Schellten
George Waniandy
Gordan White
Art Whitford
Melvin Whitford

And many others, who all left their homes in Northern Alberta to die overseas under a Canadian Flag and on foreign soil. 
All gave the same great sacrifice for all of us here today.  For peace, for safety, for Canada.

Ninety years ago, at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the guns of the First World War went silent. That is why we set aside this day each year to stop, and breathe the air around us.  To pray to God for peace in the world and remember.

We remember those in the Canadian Forces today, and yesterday.

In the words of the great World War II leader Winston Churchill, “A nation that forgets its past has no future.”  We must continue to learn from our history.

Lest we forget!
Thank you.  And God Bless.