The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and Respect for Canada’s Veterans

Ombudsman Message | 31 January 2022

Events occurring over the weekend at the War Memorial abused the freedoms for which our Canadian Armed Forces and Veterans fought and continue to fight.

Canada repatriated the remains of an Unknown Soldier from France in May 2000 and laid them to rest at the National War Memorial in Ottawa. This memorial represents all war dead whose remains could not be identified. It has taken on greater significance over the years and is now a site of memory and mourning for all war dead.

We live in a country where we are free to protest those things with which we disagree. However, those protests must respect those who fought for this freedom, including their memorials.

Freedom is not free. We must continue to respect those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

 

Gregory A. Lick

Ombudsman