Mr. James Moore (Port
Moody—Westwood-Port Coquitlam, CPC):
Mr. Speaker, across Canada we join in thanks to
our veterans. From Vimy Ridge, to
Paesschendaele, to Sicily, Juno Beach, the
Battle for Hill 355, the Battle of Kapyong, the
efforts in Kandahar, and all the countless acts
of bravery in battles that are too numerous to
list, I say thank you. It is because of your strength, your courage, your sacrifices that we enjoy our freedoms, our democracy, and our way of life.
A couple years ago I was given a poem that I would like to share with this Parliament. While we politicians have a fault of taking credit for too much, this poem serves to remind us who truly deserves praise.
The Soldier
It is the soldier, not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.It is the soldier, not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.It is the soldier, not the campus organizer,
who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.It is the soldier, not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.It is the soldier,
who salutes the flag,
who serves under the flag,
and whose coffin is draped by the flag,
who allows the protester to burn the flag.
On Remembrance Day, and everyday, let us never forget who gave themselves, so that we may be free.