To the Editor:
November can be a dreary month with the on-set of another winter. But on the positive side, it's also when we celebrate Grey Cup, the always-successful Canadian Western Agribition, and the full arrival of hockey season from Pee-Wees to the NHL.
Most importantly, November includes Remembrance Day and Veterans Week when we pay tribute to the courageous women and men of the Canadian Forces, past and present, especially those who have served in war, the wounded, and those who didn't come home.
From the Boer War to Afghanistan and Libya, close to 2-million young Canadians have served with skill and valour in multiple theatres of war around the world - 118,000 made the supreme sacrifice. Many thousands more sustained physical or psychological injuries.
We all-too-easily toss around words like "hero" to mean various icons in the world of sports or entertainment. But our true heroes are those who have actually put their lives on the line for others - to defend freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
All of Canada's veterans from WW1 and before have now passed away. But we still have with us about 91,000 from WW2 and just over 9,500 who fought in Korea. They are joined by new veterans from peacekeeping missions and other more recent assignments. Because of their service and sacrifice - whether 70 years ago or just in this past decade - these Canadian heroes are a serious national responsibility.
The ceremonies on November 11th and other solemn occasions bring us together as a nation to acknowledge the enormity of what Canada's military men and women have given and accomplished. We say "thank you" and pledge never to forget. But that's not enough.
Many war survivors suffer still. Indifference and on-going budget cuts mean too many wounded soldiers and those affected by post-traumatic stress are not getting the help they need. DVA offices are being closed. Services are harder to access. The privacy of medical records has been violated. Families of more than 20,000 recently-deceased veterans have been denied support for dignified burials.
Veterans had to fight in court for six long years to fend off a government claw-back of their pension benefits. In other legal cases, the government is contending that it owes veterans no special duty. Such an attitude is completely wrong!
This Remembrance Day, let all Canadians resolve to do better. Lest we forget.
Ralph Goodale, MP,Wascana, SK.
