Remembrance Day is a solemn occasion when all Canadians come together to remember those who have fought and served Crown and Country. The service and dedication rendered by hundreds of thousands can be traced back to the War of 1812 – and it is a commitment that continues to this day, with those who serve in the Canadian Armed Forces.

On November 11th we not only remember those who have given their lives, we also pause to thank veterans, and those currently serving in the defence of Canada, for their dedication to the safety and security of their fellow citizens.

As we approach the centennial of the beginning of the First World War and the seventy-fifth anniversary of the outbreak of the Second World War, I would like to call upon all Nova Scotians to think of ways in which we can collectively commemorate these momentous events. Coupled with commemorating must be an effort to help educate friends and neighbours about the service and sacrifice rendered. Through these endeavours we can hold high the torch of remembrance, as Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae called upon us to do.