The Citadelle, Friday, October 17, 2014
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I am delighted to welcome all of you to the Citadelle for this celebration of the Royal 22e Régiment. More precisely, for a celebration of all those who have made the Van Doos'100th anniversary so special.
It is fitting that we are holding this event in the very place that the regiment calls home. Since 1920, the Van Doos have been stationed at the Citadelle, cementing a real and lasting partnership with the office of the governor general. I am delighted that we are able to support one another, and, on occasions such as this, to be able to thank you for all that you do.
There have already been a number of events to mark this auspicious occasion. For example:
- The opening of the new Musée Royal 22e Régiment here at the Citadelle, which I very much enjoyed visiting two weeks ago;
- The commemorative statue project, including one of General the Right Honorable Georges P. Vanier, which I had the honour of unveiling this afternoon with Major General Alain Forand, Colonel of the Regiment;
- The regiment's unique honour of standing guard at Buckingham Palace this past summer; and
- The Sunset Ceremony on Parliament Hill, which celebrated both the Van Doos and Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry.
These events, of which there has been many more, have been as diverse and as special as the members of the Van Doos themselves, and they do justice to the storied history of this regiment.
We owe all of you a debt of gratitude, as the events that have taken place could not have happened without your support and dedication.
I am honoured to be commander-in-chief of Canada, and extremely proud of the dedication, valour, bravery and service of our men and women in uniform. I am also delighted that so many have taken action to safeguard the stories of the past.
Thanks to your efforts, the history of the Van Doos will be preserved for all Canadians. You have also shown the importance of community, both within the military family and in the regions in which members of the regiment serve.
Of course, it is not only military members who deserve our thanks. When speaking of the Van Doos and the events of this past year, we cannot forget the family members of those who serve, as they sacrifice so much for our country and support the Canadian Armed Forces in countless ways. And we must also mention all of the civilians, here in this room and across the country, who have made a real difference in preserving history and making sure that Canadians do not forget those who have fought, and those who have died, defending our values and ideals.
I have been impressed with the active and retired Van Doos I have met and worked with during my mandate. I have learned first-hand that, in times of war and in times of peace, there is truth to the saying: "Van Doo un jour…Van Doo toujours."
Thank you for your support and once again, congratulations on reaching this impressive milestone.
