Acts of bravery must not be forgotten

Remembrance Day is just that, a time to remember. Do we Canadians remember? Can we find the time in our busy schedules to put aside our ipods, cell phones, blackberries, and other distractions, to pause and reflect for two minutes on the sacrifices others have made for us?

I shudder when I think about what could have happened if our soldiers had decided that the risk was too great to take Vimy Ridge. 3,598 of our bravest and best lost their lives at Vimy, and many, many, more at Passchendaele (the Third Battle of Ypres.) Yet the battles fought at these ridges were some of the most important confrontations of World War I. The Canadian soldiers gave their best effort, and many, their lives, to take control of these ridges.

Now, let us not forget Flanders, also known as the Second Battle of Ypres. It was here that the Canadian troops were first exposed to poisonous gases used by the enemy. But still they pressed on.

On to Gravenstafel where again chlorine gas was used; being heavier then air, the gas forced our troops out of the trenches and in to enemy fire.

How can we forget these acts of bravery? Can we not stand still and reflect on the sacrifices made for us? Not just in the World Wars, but also on the Plains of Abraham, and even today in Afghanistan.

This Remembrance Day and forever, let us remember them.