ARCHIVED - Caring about democracy

News Article / February 2, 2015

By Honorary Colonel Loreena McKennitt

On January 21, 2015, in Ottawa, Loreena McKennitt was invested as honorary colonel of the Royal Canadian Air Force and of the Air Staff, a unit located at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa, Ontario. The following are the remarks she delivered to those who attended the investiture.

General Blondin, former commanders, men and women of the Air Staff, and honoured guests.

I am delighted to be standing before you today as the honorary colonel of the Royal Canadian Air Force, and I am certainly honoured and humbled to be so welcomed into this distinguished family.

In these few minutes I have to share with you today, I acknowledge I am actually speaking to two constituencies – those who are serving and have served, and those of us on the civilian side.

To begin, let me speak to those who are serving or have served and to those whom we will be honouring in a short while. On behalf of Canadians, I thank you. There can be no nobler a calling than that of serving others.

I am reminded of Cicero’s words which were so famously adopted in the inaugural speech of John F. Kennedy: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but rather what can you do for your country.” And those words ring as relevant today as they did in Cicero’s time, and you answered that call.

During the several years I held the role as honorary colonel of 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron, I had the privilege of learning about and being exposed to a great deal of what you do, and how you do it – often from the back of a CC-130. Too, I have learned of the many compromises and sacrifices you and your families quietly incur as you go about your daily duties.

And although I have been dismayed by my own lack of knowledge, at the same time I have been in utter awe of the sophistication of your training, your capacity for leadership, and your devotion to humanity and the common good.

Not coming from an Air Force background, my learning curve has been steep. And as I have learned, it has been important for me to share with those with whom I come in contact—whether it be my band and crew, or audiences I may perform for, or people from a multitude of walks of life with whom I engage—that although we may use the word “military”, which may conjure up a wide range of associations for different people, our Canadian Forces personnel do many things which extend far beyond the battlefield.

Many were as surprised as I was to learn that your mandate includes search and rescue, humanitarian aid, sovereignty patrol, re-supply missions, international peacekeeping, peacemaking, and combat roles, not to mention international and domestic disaster relief.

I have learned an enormous amount and now, as the honorary colonel of the Royal Canadian Air Force, I suspect my learning will only continue, particularly with respect to the accomplishments, challenges and needs unique to the Air Force. I am eager to get on with the job.

And now, I would like to turn my remarks to my fellow citizens.

I accepted the role of honorary colonel largely inspired by the belief that democracy does not thrive as a spectator sport – that if we care about the democracy we live in, we all need to do our part to preserve it.

A vital part of this analysis has been to take into account that militaries around the world are unto themselves unique entities, endowed with their distinct past and present, and with distinct political and economic associations.

In Canada, we are fortunate to count our military as a relatively neutral instrument, instructed by the government of the day on behalf of Canadians. As well we know, this is not nor has always been the case elsewhere in the world.

Our present Canadian Forces are the extension of the history and traditions of the very brave men and women who, from across our land, fought and died in vast numbers in two great wars and more. It is they who have afforded us our life of liberty, privilege and affluence. Not only are we living off a legacy, they are building the legacy to come.

And because of that, each government of whatever political stripe is responsible for what that instrument does on our behalf, and who may die on our behalf.

For that instrument is much more than just equipment and protocols, but real people—and their families—who continue to support Canadians, Canada, and the international community every day of the year.

We, as citizens, owe it to them to be informed about the work they do, the challenges and risks they face. For in their neutrality lies a vulnerability for which each citizen holds a duty of care

They deserve informed and responsible leadership who in turn are supported by an informed and involved citizenry. We, along with our leaders and political representatives, must undertake our full due diligence. Our instructions to our military must be commensurate with our national expectations. And we must also be prepared to pay the price – for, without question, their lives and the lives of many others, depend upon us.

And in the responsibility we owe these men and women, we must not forget about their families at home. These individuals are robust, determined and proud, and often far removed from the support of their extended families. They face many challenges which come from constant resettling, the difficulty of single parenting, spousal employment and housing issues, securing a doctor or the emotional worry which comes from having a loved one away, sometimes for great lengths of time, often in harm’s way.

As Canadians, we are deeply privileged to have some of the finest men and women serving our country and the international community. Around, behind and beside them are some of the most remarkable families you will find anywhere.

As citizens, we owe them all our duty of care.

To those who have served and are serving still, I thank you. On behalf of all of those who experience the immeasurable benefits of your service and sacrifice, I also thank you. And finally, thank you for the privilege of serving you.