Time to remember service, sacrifices

Remembrance Day is a time to pause and remember the sacrifices made by Canada’s men and women in uniform.

In 2018, Canada will mark the 65th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice, the 10th anniversary of National Peacekeepers’ Day and the 100th anniversary of the Armistice.

The service and sacrifices of Canadian Armed Forces members during times of war, conflict and peace have helped define and shape our country. Indeed, throughout our country’s history, Canadian men and women have bravely fought tyranny and evil around the world, defending our country, our values and our way of life.

During the First World War, more than 650,000 Canadians and Newfoundlanders served overseas, while thousands more trained in preparation to join them, and hundreds of thousands of other Canadians worked on the home front to support the war effort.

In places like Dieppe, Vimy and Passchendale, entire generations sacrificed to defend freedom, peace and democracy and ultimately established Canada as an independent force on the global stage.

On Aug. 8, 1918, Allied forces on the Western Front launched a major offensive against the German lines near the town of Amiens, France. The Battle of Amiens would mark the beginning of the end of the First World War.

During these last three months the Canadian Corps would advance 130 kilometres, take some 32,000 German prisoners and capture almost 3,800 enemy artillery pieces, machine guns and mortars. Thirty Canadians and Newfoundlanders would earn the Victoria Cross in this final push, the highest decoration for valour they could receive.

We are eternally grateful for Canada’s veterans who at great personal cost defend our freedoms. This Remembrance Day, please join me in extending a heartfelt thank you to Canada’s veterans. Lest we forget. Glen Motz is Member of Parliament (CPC) for Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner