11/11/11

I was going to write about the White Poppy Campaign, the disgrace of the Toronto Mayor, and the embarrassing antics of our politicians. I was going to express my thoughts and feelings regarding these three top news stories. Instead, I am going to talk about what November is really about.

November is the month to remember the Veterans who fought for our freedom. The red Poppy symbolizes the blood shed for your right to say and do what you want. Men and women risked their lives, and the ones who saw battle and survived physically, have seen things that no person should ever see. They may not have shed blood, but they did lose a major part of themselves on the battlefield.

It was not just the men and women in the armed forces that need to be remembered. It is their husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and children who need to be remembered. They sacrificed as well, many lost a loved one. Not just through death, but through PTSD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The men and women who were sent overseas came back different people because of all the destruction they saw and caused.

I wear the poppy to remind myself to remember and be thankful for all the soldiers and their families. For everything they sacrificed so that I could be free to pursue my life the way I want to. So that I can stand up and voice my opinion about parliament and their shenanigans, so that you and your children, and their children will always have the freedom stand up for what they believe in.

So for this month, the month of November, and especially on the 11th, take a moment, remember that people fought, sacrificed, and died for you and your freedom.

It is a solemn occasion. A time to honour those veterans alive and dead who have, and still are working to keep our country free.

To all our military personnel, thank you.