Remembrance Day

Today is Remembrance Day here in Canada! A day we set aside each year to honour our war dead! It's also a day to show appreciation to our living veterans and those brave men and women in uniform who are currently serving. This year will be the first year that Canadians will observe Remembrance Day with no living WWI veterans.

My grandfather served in both WWI & WWII--lying his age as a young man to enlist and then serving again when the call to war came a second time. I have always had ties of some sort to the military, whether they be family members or friends, and so Remembrance Day has always had really deep meaning for me.

As I look around at what is going on in different parts of the world and see many areas still ravaged by war, I am thankful that those who came before me answered the call to fight and defend my freedom. I now enjoy a quiet and peaceful life and have freedoms here in Canada that many around the world do not enjoy. Here's just a few of those rights I will not take for granted...the right to practice my faith freely, the right to an education, the right to good health care, the right to own property, the right to clean water and healthy food, the right to free speech, the right to vote (without fear of violence)...these are just a few! Is is because I am special, priviledged or wealthy? No...it's because those who came before me stood up and were counted and sowed the seeds necessary for me to reap the life I now enjoy.

So, to those who have passed on, who have served Canada at its people, I vow to make sure my children will hear about your sacrifice and learn to respect it and to appreciate & strive for peace. To those of you out there who are retired from service--you have my deepest gratitude!! It is my prayer that the Canadian people will never cease to show you through their words and deeds how much we appreciate you!! To all of you out there who still take up the call to fight & defend, to bring peace and to mend, I salute you & the families that support you!! May God keep you safe!!

A big wave to May, Tara, & Scott!! May God protect you and keep you safe as you serve & defend!!

Blessings,
Sarah