On Remembrance Day we honour the men and women who died serving their country on battlefields from Vimy Ridge to the Kapyong Valley.  We honour them by remembering their sacrifices, expressing our solemn gratitude to veterans and saluting current members of the Canadian Armed Forces and their families. 

As Canadians, we must never forget that the prosperous and peaceful country in which we are so fortunate to live, was indelibly shaped by the tragic and horrific wars of the twentieth century.  We have a responsibility to develop a deeper understanding of the context in which these global conflicts occurred and to tell the stories of all the people who made individual sacrifices for the collective good. 

This year marks the 100^th and 75^th anniversary of the outbreak of the First and Second World Wars respectively.  Commemorations are taking place all across Canada and the world in legions, museums, cenotaphs and around kitchen tables.  I am especially heartened by the many initiatives organized by young people to pay tribute to the veterans and active members of the Canadian Armed Forces in their communities.  For this is what Remembrance Day is all about: appreciation, respect and passing on the lessons learned in conflict from one generation to the next. 

Lest we forget.