The commercial is doing its job.
You've probably noticed an ad on TV recently that shows images of mostly young adults followed by the tag line: "I'm a veteran." I applaud whoever created the commercial because it's doing a fantastic job of reinforcing the notion that a veteran is not defined by age.
The members of the Canadian Armed Forces featured in the ads, who look to be in their 20s and 30s, are indeed veterans, even if they don't necessarily fit the stereotype. When most Canadians think of Remembrance Day, or a veteran, the image of an elderly gentleman comes to mind, someone who made this country proud by serving in the Second World War or perhaps the Korean War.
With the second of the great wars now seven decades removed, and the Korean War not much fresher in our collective consciousness, there are fewer and fewer veterans from those conflicts still in our midst. However, there is a growing list of "new" veterans, those who have worn the maple leaf in far-flung places like Afghanistan, Libya and Bosnia.
Rev. Jim Short of Ladner United Church, who served as chaplain for Canadian forces in Afghanistan in 2008, is recognizing the ultimate sacrifice of this new generation of soldiers with a special ceremony this morning in Memorial Park.
Short and Jen Brown, a local veteran who served at the same time in Afghanistan, will read out the names of the 157 Canadian soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice during that combat mission, including that of South Delta Secondary grad Stephan Stock.
There might never be another military conflict of the scale of the two world wars, but history has shown us there will always be hot spots that require the might and the indefatigability of nations that seek peace in this world. And that means we'll continue to see more and more "young" veterans.
These brave men and women deserve our respect and gratitude in the same way we honour those that served before them. A veteran is a veteran is a veteran, whether he or she is 25 or 95.
It's humbling to see the next generation of Canada's military step forward and build on a proud and distinguished tradition that dates back a century.
Canadians can continue to be thankful for the fact we have courageous men and women willing to put their lives on the line for the greater good.
Remembrance Day is a time to pay tribute to all those who have served, including those who might not immediately be viewed as a veteran.
