Stuart R. Crawford

Take time out today to remember

Today is Remembrance Day in Canada, it is a very special day to remember those who have given up the ultimate sacrifice to protect Canada and our standards of life across multiple generations.  It is a very special day often overlooked right here in this country.  I have to admit, I am appalled when many businesses elect to give their employees an extra day at Christmas instead of taking today off to mark this special day.

Yesterday, here in Calgary we laid to rest our 133rd soldier to die in Afghanistan, Sapper Steven Marshall, CityTV covered the funeral of Sapper Marshall.  Isn’t it important to take time away from the office, work or wherever to pay respects to our fallen comrades who fought in WWI, WWII, Korea, all the UN Peacekeeping missions, Yugoslavia and now Afghanistan.

In full disclosure to my readers, I was a member of the Canadian military for just under 9 years.  Serving in Germany, Cyprus and all across Canada and the United States.  My career was in communications and electronics.  I have been out of the Canadian Army for over 12 years now but the military still holds a very special place in my heart and I take time to reflect on my own service, my friends and those in my family who served overseas.

My sister and her husband both served in Afghanistan, my cousin was injured in Afghanistan when a US A-10 shot up a Canadian military installation and he also served in Yugoslavia.  The Canadian military has lost 133 members in Afghanistan alone.  Yes, I know these are not big numbers compared to some other countries but these are 133 Canadian brothers and sisters.  All of them, very special people who served their country with honour and they deserve our respect.

On last note, besides all the soldiers we lost…think about all the families who lost a Dad, brother, mother, sister and those who had their lives changed by injury.  There are a high number of great Canadians who came home injured and had their lives totally changed.

Here is a great video on the importance of taking time out to remember.