Remember Them, But Also Embrace Their Legacy

This Remembrance Day marks the 75th anniversary of United Nations Peacekeeping.

As many of you know, Canada was instrumental in creating the first UN peacekeeping mission during the Suez crisis in 1956. Since that first mission, more than 125,000 Canadians have served in peacekeeping efforts in dozens of countries. About 130 of them lost their lives. Like those who served for our country in the First and Second World Wars, the Korean War, the Gulf War, as well as more recently in Afghanistan, many of our peacekeepers also returned home with life-altering physical and mental injuries.

Many of us have a personal connection to Canada’s military history. For me, my Great Uncle was wounded in the First World War. My wife lost two people close to her family in the Second World War, including an uncle and her mother’s first husband. I’m sure your family lost loved ones as well. Remembering their courage and sacrifice is a duty we can all be proud to accept.

Unfortunately, even as Canada increases our military presence in Europe and the Middle East, it seems appreciation for our military history is waning at home.

Back in May, the Government of Canada announced changes to the passport, including the removal of the Vimy Memorial. For shame. This battle in April of 1917 saw four divisions of Canadian farm boys ordered to do something that no other Allied force had done in the First World War: take Vimy Ridge. Marching into a wall of screaming lead, they accomplished the impossible at a horrendous cost, with more than 7,000 wounded and 3,598 killed. In retrospect, historians and political leaders alike have argued that this battle was the place where Canada truly became a nation. Removing the Vimy Memorial from the passport is inexcusable.

As far as 2023 is concerned, the news gets worse. Earlier this fall, the Parliament of Canada went so far as to honor with a standing ovation a former Nazi SS soldier, sparking a scandal that ultimately resulted in the resignation of the Speaker. That any federal official could be so ignorant of history as to praise one of our nation’s enemies in the Second World War as a “Canadian hero,” is astounding.

These are just the latest incidents in what is becoming a trend.

According to a 2021 article in University World News, two of Canada’s most prestigious universities - McGill and the University of Toronto – don’t require a military history course to earn a PhD in history. In fact, our nation’s only military studies department (outside of military college) is at the University of Calgary.

Going back a few years earlier, a public opinion poll found a shocking lack of public knowledge about the Battle of Vimy Ridge, with only 47 percent aware that it took place during the First World War. When presented with a photo of the Vimy Memorial, just 12 percent could identify it, despite the fact that many of us carry a picture of it with us every day. It has been depicted on the $20 bill since 2012.

For me, this declining military history knowledge and appreciation is just sad. There are many lessons to be learned from the victories and the sacrifices of our armed forces. We can learn from their example that every single one of us is capable of summoning courage, living with honor, and acting with resilience in the face of great adversity. To me, there is no more important lesson we can pass on to future generations.

This is partly why I believe it is so important for us to support organizations like the Royal Canadian Legion. In addition to serving our veterans, they work with our schools to bring a different perspective to students. They have the ability to go beyond the impersonal dates and statistics to spark children’s imaginations, helping them to gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be Canadian.

This Remembrance Day, many of us will make our annual trip to the local cenotaph to remember those who fought for us and the freedom we enjoy. I was raised to believe that honoring them is important, we also need to find inspiration in their courage and sacrifice.

When we do that, we can more fully embrace their legacy.