Editor:
As we draw nearer to Remembrance Day, perhaps it is time to think about the approximately 700,000 veterans who grace Canada from coast to coast to coast.
Those 700,000 are Canadians who stepped forward and said, "Ready, Aye, Ready," and volunteered to serve their country and fellow Canadians. None could or did know the eventual outcome of their volunteerism; some went overseas and fought, survived and returned to Canada and their loved ones.
Sadly, far too many Canadians who went overseas did not return. Until Afghanistan, those who fell in battle were not returned to Canada.
Other Canadians performed magnificently on Canadian soil in myriad duties from rescuing souls from raging seas or from snow-covered mountain tops or from the cruel Arctic and its whiteout-inducing environment or assisting civilians sandbag dikes to hold back floodwaters, plus a host of other duties too numerous to mention here.
While not a war-mongering country, Canada and Canadians have stepped forward and offered assistance to citizens of countries in peril and have waged war to right a grievous wrong.
From South Africa to Afghanistan and all the countries and battles in between during the 1899 to 2011 period, Canadians have served with distinction. Despite what might be suggested by some who see this country's military as an unnecessary drain on taxpayers, the Canadian military is an important segment of Canada.
Those who volunteer to serve in one of the three forces are real persons who live among us, who contribute to the betterment of the region and who, regardless of where they reside in Canada, ought to be thanked not criticized as seems too often to be the custom.
They become Canada's veterans. One way to recognize and respect a veteran in B.C. is to notice a vehicle's licence plate. Veterans' plates are blue and stand out.
Today, in various areas in Canada, protestors are doing what protestors do while claiming a right. Inasmuch as the protestors might feel aggrieved and claim their "right" to stage public protests, they ought not at all times forget who paid the price for their self-proclaimed right. Veterans provided the protestors with the freedom to carry out their protests.
The stirring words in Canada's national anthem, We Stand On Guard For Thee, are real and something that all veterans and current serving members of Canada's army, navy or air force honour. Perhaps it is time others did likewise.
Remembrance Day is mere days away and the local cenotaph stands silent waiting for Canadians to pay their respects for those who served, died and provided all - including the protestors - the freedom to stage sit-ins.
A better sit-in might be a stand-in at the cenotaph to remember what Canada's military personnel have done and continue to do for all Canadians, coast to coast to coast.
Bob Orrick
