Winnipeg Remembrance Day article

Hello Everyone,

I'm thinking of all of you in here today who have served for the rest of us, and those sacrifices who gave their all. Lest We Forget

I found this article in our local WINNIPEG newspaper and thought you all might like to read it:

From Winnipeg Sun Novenmber 11, 2004:

Thu, November 11, 2004

Let us not forget

Today, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, we will
remember them. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will
remember them.

These lines are well-worn in our minds and engraved in our history as
Canadians; part of the heartfelt, ritual observance of Remembrance Day.

But what of the rest of the time -- all the other days of all the other months
of the year? Ah, lest we forget ...

There's no doubt, today's ceremonies have taken on a new significance,
in part because we realize the number of surviving veterans of the two
world wars is quickly dwindling; in part because we have, for the first time
in a half-century, new war dead to mourn.

Today's Silver Cross mother, for instance, is the mother of Ainsworth
Dyer, one of four Canadian soldiers killed two years ago in Afghanistan by
an American bomb (six have died there since the post-9/11 war began).
This year, we also remember Lieut. Chris Saunders, the first submariner
killed on duty in nearly 50 years -- the victim of the fire aboard the ill-fated
HMCS Chicoutimi.

A resurgence of public interest in our veterans and serving military has
meant a heartening increase in things like poppy sales and participation in
Remembrance Week events -- and welcome developments like the Mint's
new "poppy quarter" (which, sadly, isn't widely available yet).

And, of course, the outrageous disrespect to veterans shown by Bloc
Quebecois MP Andre Bellevance last week has galvanized people across
the country to insist our veterans and our flag be properly honoured.

It is all commendable but it is not enough.

We must make sure that respect for veterans extends all year -- to people
who have fought the feds for decades for their pensions or for veterans of
the Gulf War, the Balkans and other hotspots still struggling to have their
ailments recognized.

We must demand today's serving troops -- tomorrow's veterans, on guard
for our freedom as ever -- are adequately equipped (not left vulnerable in
shoddy subs, dangerous helicopters and flimsy vehicles) and supported
(not forced to pay up to $100 a month more, as they were this month, for
military housing that is largely substandard and in need of repair).

The torch, as John McCrae so memorably wrote during the "war to end all
wars," is ours to hold high.

"If ye break faith with us who die, we shall not sleep," he told us.

Let us never forget, today and every tomorrow.