Passchendaele won’t be forgotten

Re: “Politicians give Passchendaele short shrift 100 years later,” Chris Nelson, Opinion, Oct. 26.

I would like to respond to recent comments made concerning the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Passchendaele.

At Passchendaele, Canadians displayed great bravery, with nine of our soldiers earning the Victoria Cross — the highest award for military valour that a Canadian could earn.

Canada will indeed recognize the 100th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Passchendaele, and both the triumph of the Canadian Corps in capturing the village of Passchendaele and the incredible sacrifice of more than 4,000 of our soldiers who died and the almost 12,000 more wounded in the fierce and bloody conflict.

From Nov. 8 to 12, a government of Canada delegation, led by Sherry Romanado, parliamentary secretary to the minister of Veterans Affairs and associate minister of National Defence, will visit the Passchendaele region of Belgium. Additionally, Harjit Sajjan, the minister of national defence, will attend the ceremony at the Tyne Cot Cemetery on Nov. 10.

The delegation will include veterans, representatives from Indigenous and veterans organizations, descendants of Passchendaele veterans, parliamentarians, the RCMP and five youth from across the country.

The Canadian Armed Forces contingent travelling to Belgium will be composed of units and branches representing groups that served at Passchendaele, as well as the band of the Royal 22e Regiment.

In Canada, the Battle of Passchendaele will be a central theme throughout Veterans’ Week, Nov. 5 to 11. Hundreds of communities and organizations will host ceremonies and events to recognize and honour Canada’s fallen, our veterans and the men and women currently serving in uniform.

The haunting imagery of the muddy battlefields of Passchendaele is the central element of this year’s Veterans’ Week poster and this milestone is an important element of Veterans Affairs Canada’s suite of associated Veterans’ Week learning resources.

Lesson plans for youth of all ages touching on our country’s experiences in the bitter Battle of Passchendaele have also been shared with educators from coast to coast to coast.

As well, the Canada Remembers theme week, hosted by the Encounters with Canada program in Ottawa, will see more than 100 students from across the nation come together for a week of experiential learning that includes remembrance themes tying in to the Battle of Passchendaele.

Recognizing Passchendaele 100 years later, and commemorating and honouring the contributions of those who have served our country in the cause of peace and freedom during Veterans’ Week and throughout the year, is our commitment to all Canadians.

Lest we forget. Seamus O’Regan, Ottawa Seamus O’Regan is minister of Veterans Affairs and associate minister of National Defence.