The GazerBlog

Maybe it’s just me, but this year the television networks seem to be a lot more with it around Remembrance Day and veterans week. I have learned a great deal about Canadian efforts in WW I, WW II and all they way up to present day this week, and I wasn’t exactly ignorant before this point of our roles in the world stage.

We have much to be proud of. From Vimy Ridge to Afghanistan today, Canada has taken a leadership role in many ways beyond what many think our small nation has been capable of.

I think the most telling point in my mind was today on the radio. The commentator was talking about Afghanistan today. I paraphrase, but I’ll put it as a block quote in my own words to put it in the first person voice more effectively to bring it across to you:

Today in Afghanistan, people trust and feel safer with the Maple Leaf. Canadian soldiers since they started in Afghanistan have come out of their armoured vehicles, taken off their sunglasses and worked very hard to reach out to the Afghan people to understand them, help them, earn their trust and work with them to rebuild and improve their nation with them. This approach has been so successful that the leader of the US Military has called for a change of tactics in civilian engagement to mirror the Canadian approach.

The people that serve our nation are doing more to define Canada on the world stage than anyone else, and they are putting their lives on the line in doing it. They deserve our respect, our support and our commitment to them.

To all of our veterans, and to all of our servicemen and women in the forces today, I thank you for having such commitment to our great country, and in helping to make our country so great. Know that we are proud of you as a nation, and the rich tradition of our military is well worth knowing for everyone in Canada.

We should all take note of our Infantry’s motto. The Royal Canadian Infantry rallies to the Latin word Ducimus.

It means “We Lead”.