Veterans Week 2021 – CAF speakers delivering a general message for audiences of all ages
Video / October 22, 2021
Transcript
Canada’s military history is more than just dates and battles.
Our history is people.
For more than 100 years, Canada’s sailors, soldiers, aviators and special forces have risked their lives for one common goal—building a better world.
Some have served overseas, protecting our allies and upholding the rights and freedoms of others.
Some have helped out in their communities in times of need—after fires or floods, or throughout the pandemic.
Each one has a unique story.
Veterans’ week is a time to remember their service and their sacrifice.
A time to remember their selflessness.
And their unwavering belief in democracy and peace.
I’m so honoured to share some of their stories with you today.
Stories that inspire me to be a better member of the military…
A better Canadian…and a better person.
I want you to imagine this.
It’s 1916. You’re a young person full of energy.
You’ve left your family back home in Newfoundland, and are now in France near the village of Beaumont-Hamel. You’re ready to fight to bring peace and safety back to Europe.
It’s July 1st, and you and 800 of your comrades in arms advance towards the frontline.
You continue to fight, as those beside you fall. You keep pressing forward, long into the night.
The next morning, only you and 67 others from your regiment answer the roll-call. 700 brave troops are not with you that morning. Some are missing, some are wounded, and some will never answer the call again.
That is the terrible cost of war.
Over 62,000 Canadians died in the First World War…
Including roughly 1,300 soldiers from the Dominion of Newfoundland, who proudly served in their own regiment as Newfoundland was not yet a Canadian province.
We remember their incredible sacrifices—and the sacrifices of those who were injured or struggled with their mental health when they came home.
But we must also recognize that not everyone was allowed to serve equally...like the members of the Number 2 Construction Battalion.
In the early years of the First World War many Black Canadians were denied entry into Canada’s military because of the colour of their skin.
They refused to take “no” for an answer, and in 1916, volunteers all, they were allowed to serve as part of a segregated, non-combatant unit in France.
Their determination to serve their country despite the bias they had faced is something we should never forget.
Thankfully, the soldiers of No 2 Construction Battalion are finally receiving the recognition they were due over one hundred years ago.
Their story is one of tremendous courage and valour, in the face of hate and discrimination.
It is an example of the resilience, selflessness, and dedication of those who have fought for our country.
And it is a reminder that we still have work to do to fight against racism and injustice here at home.
We also remember our veterans who served in the Second World War.
Soldiers like Warrant Officer Second Class John Robert Osborn, who led his company to recapture Mount Butler during the Defence of Hong Kong in 1941.
They charged with their bayonets and seized the summit from the Japanese forces. But by mid-afternoon, they were surrounded, and running low on ammunition and supplies.
As bullets and grenades rained down on them, John Osborn courageously picked up many of the live Japanese grenades, and threw them back at the enemy.
But there was one he could not get to in time. He yelled for his platoon to clear the area, pushed his men aside, and threw himself over the explosive. He was killed instantly.
His courage saved many lives, and he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his valour.
10 years later and a few thousand kilometres away, roughly 700 Canadians would help defeat a force of 5,000 Chinese soldiers at Kapyong, during the Korean War.
They were outnumbered but not outmatched. They fought valiantly and they persevered.
While the Battle of Kapyong was on land, Canadians in Korea also served in the air and on the sea.
In the skies, they destroyed enemy jet fighters and transported people and much needed cargo.
And on the water, sailors like Ted Jamieson, an Indigenous CAF member from the Six Nations Upper Cayuga Band, helped patrol the coasts, disrupt enemy supplies, and conduct surveillance.
Chief Petty Officer First Class Jamieson was an expert in anti-submarine warfare deployed to Korea on HMCS Iroquois.
He was onboard when the ship was attacked on October 2nd, 1952 – an attack that led to the Royal Canadian Navy’s only battle casualties during the war.
He survived, and came home to share his vast knowledge with others, as a Senior Instructor at the Artillery School in Halifax.
Shortly after the Korean War, the United Nations launched its first large-scale peacekeeping effort in response to the Suez Crisis.
In November of 1956, Canadian forces joined 9 other countries in the Middle East as part of the first United Nations Emergency Force.
Their efforts helped end the crisis and brought peace to the region for the next 10 years.
In the early 90s, the Canadian Armed Forces would return to the Middle East, serving in the Gulf War.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the end of that conflict.
More than 4,000 Canadians served in the Persian Gulf region from 1990 to 1991, including Major Lynn Doucette – an Air Weapons Controller from Ingonish Beach, Nova Scotia.
She deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1991, and was posted to an American Air base in Turkey.
There, she commanded a US Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft.
She kept a careful eye on the enemy and reported what she saw on the radar to the generals on the ground. She recommended what actions they should take.
But she faced significant barriers as a woman in uniform. Local cultural restrictions at the Turkish airbase banned women from entering the operations centres.
She was denied her seat at the table, due to her gender.
But she was undeterred, and continued to perform her duty with excellence, and bravery.
Her work, and that of her comrades-in-arms, was key to maintaining control over the sky during the Persian Gulf War.
We have answered the call time and time again. Following the attacks on September 11th, 2001, we began our combat operations in Afghanistan.
Over 40,000 Canadian Armed Forces members fought bravely to help the people of that country in their time of need.
Besides the dangers of combat, the conditions were harrowing and left lasting scars on many who served.
They faced extreme heat.
Dust storms.
And the constant threat of roadside bombs or other explosive devices.
158 Canadian military members made the ultimate sacrifice—including Captain Nichola Goddard.
She was a strong leader and a respected officer, who believed in building a better world for others.
And she remains an inspiration to those who serve today.
Today, I, and other people like me carry on the legacy of those who came before us, working on the ground, in the air, and at sea.
Our operations across the globe are all about supporting our Allies and partners.
And, here at home, when disaster strikes, we are always ready to help Canadians in need.
No matter what, we find a way to help. We adapt. We learn. We take on new roles.
Because at the end of the day, that’s why we joined the Canadian Armed Forces: to defend Canada and Canadians. To do good in the world. To live a life of purpose and meaning.
So, whenever you can, I encourage you to reflect on the efforts of our Canadian Armed Forces members, both past and present.
Celebrate the lives of those who made it home, who survived to have families and to grow old.
Honour those who did not.
And remember that today, there are thousands of members who put their lives on the line in defence of our country, our people, and our values.
Lest we forget.
Thank you.