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 Good evening everyone.
My name is Col Jody Hanson and I am the Commander of 17 Wing Winnipeg. I am also an Aerospace Controller in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Thank you for inviting me to join you on this Remembrance Day. This is a time to honour Canada’s distinguished Veterans, and the currently serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces. We’re all part of a proud legacy that stretches back across Canada’s history – from Confederation through the First and Second World Wars, all the way to Korea, Afghanistan, and today. Whether we’re wearing the Navy, Army, Air Force, or Special Forces uniform, we have the common goal of defending the values we hold dear: peace, freedom, and democracy… And keeping Canadians and our Allies safe and secure. We do this in peace support operations, in times of war, and in training missions abroad, as well as in emergency response missions at home. And we all work together as a team, supporting and encouraging each other along the way. Today I’m going to tell you about a few battles and missions that military members and Veterans have taken part in – some from many years ago, and some more recent. I’m also going to share stories about the people behind these critical operations. Because behind every operation and every uniform is someone’s parent, child, sibling, or friend. Someone who left behind their loved ones and their communities to help others far away from home… Someone who may have returned home bearing the scars of war – both physical and mental – that would remain with them for years to come… And someone who may not have returned home at all, making the ultimate sacrifice in service of our country. They took up the challenges of their era and showed remarkable strength, resilience, and courage so that we can live in a safer and more peaceful world. Sharing their stories is just one way we can honour them. D-DAY AND THE BATTLE OF NORMANDY Let’s start by travelling back in time to one of the most significant chapters in military history – D-Day and the Battle of Normandy – which helped turn the tide of the Second World War. On June 6th, 1944, Canadians and other Allies crossed the English Channel, and headed for an 80-kilometre stretch of the Normandy coast. There were five beaches where the Allies landed, and Canada was in charge of securing Juno Beach. The goal of the invasion was to free Western Europe from Nazi occupation. Canadians and their Allies fought against huge odds. Against strong Nazi defences and a well-equipped enemy. At times, it seemed an impossible task. But after 11 weeks of fighting on sea, on land, and in the air, they achieved their goal and changed the course of history. However, success came at a staggering cost. It’s estimated that 359 Canadians were killed on D-Day alone… More than 5,000 Canadians were killed during the two-and-a-half months of fighting in Normandy… And more than 13,000 Canadians were injured both in mind and body. These veterans fought selflessly to achieve peace and to make the world a better place. One such Canadian was the late Able Seaman Fred Turnbull. He joined the Royal Canadian Navy at only 17 years old. And at only 19 years old, he was helping bring soldiers by boat to the beaches of Normandy. This included dropping the ramp of the landing craft and jumping over the bow into waist-deep sea water to help steady it so that the troops could storm ashore. It was a scary and dangerous position to be in as he was exposed to enemy fire. But Turnbull said, “You just have a job to do, and you do it.” He would return to the beaches of Normandy four times to deliver supplies. Because of his efforts, he was awarded France’s highest decoration for service – the Legion of Honour. We remember Turnbull and the thousands of Canadians who put their lives on the line during the Second World War to defend peace, freedom, democracy, and human rights for all. While D-Day and the Battle of Normandy took place more than 80 years ago, the efforts of these Veterans have had lasting impacts. They helped defeat Nazi rule and ensured that the values we cherish could be restored in Westen Europe. And their victory led to the foundation of the rules-based international order which has helped secure our relative peace and prosperity around the world ever since… And which Canada continues defending to this day. AFGHANISTAN In the years after the end of the Second World War, these values would be fought for again… Including in the war in Afghanistan. That was Canada’s largest military deployment since the Second World War... And it was Canada’s longest military effort, lasting more than 12 years. Our goal was to help create a more secure and democratic nation after the toppling of the Taliban regime in 2001. The Taliban had been providing a safe haven for the terrorist group, Al-Qaeda, which was responsible for the terrorist attacks on September 11th in the United States. Throughout the war, military members provided security to Afghanistan’s new government, and helped the people of Afghanistan after years of conflict. It was dangerous and hard work. Members of the Canadian Armed Forces took part in large-scale battles and daily firefights, braved roads planted with bombs, and tried to win the trust of the locals. Despite these challenges, members of the Canadian Armed Forces helped make important gains at the time like increasing the number of children in school, increasing access to health care, and improving women’s rights. More than 40,000 Canadian soldiers, sailors and aircrew served in the country… And 158 of these military members never returned home. We remember the bravery and courage of all those who served in Afghanistan. They were committed to making a difference and took on great risk to do so. AFRICA More recently, CAF members served in the UN peacekeeping mission in the West African country of Mali, under the banner Operation PRESENCE. From 2018 to 2023, more than 1,250 Canadian Armed Forces were deployed on this mission. Under extremely hot and dry weather conditions, they worked with more than 57 nations to help maintain peace and stability. This included protecting civilians and providing humanitarian assistance. The Royal Canadian Air Force – which has defended the skies at home and abroad for more than 100 years – had a critical role in Mali. They provided air transport to evacuate wounded peacekeepers and civilians – essentially becoming flying emergency rooms – as well as helping move UN supplies around the country. One of these people was Captain Jackie Ruis, a Chinook helicopter pilot. She knew she wanted to be a pilot ever since she was a kid. And her first deployment was on Operation PRESENCE in Mali. Captain Ruis’ role was to bring medical teams to people who were injured and then bring the injured to the hospital. She said that while she loved flying, each time she got to do it, it meant someone else was having a terrible day. But she said she took comfort in knowing that she was helping others during their most difficult moments. Canadian peacekeepers make many sacrifices when they serve in overseas missions. They often spend six months or a year away from friends and loved ones. They also face the danger of working in a place in turmoil, with uncertainty about what each day will bring. We thank Captain Ruis and all members who defend peace in places far away from home. CURRENT INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS Remembrance Day is also an opportunity to think about all the military members who are serving in current missions across the globe. In 2014, Russia illegally invaded and took control of the Ukrainian region of Crimea. In 2022, they launched a brutal and illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Thousands of Ukrainians have died in this conflict. Many have lost their homes and have been forced to flee. To support Ukraine in its fight for freedom, Canada launched Operation UNIFIER in 2015. Through this mission, Canadian military members have been sharing their knowledge and skills with members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine who are desperately fighting to take back their homeland. Before Russia’s illegal invasion, CAF members were conducting this training in Ukraine. And we’ve continued providing this support, in the United Kingdom, Poland, and Latvia. To date, the Canadian Armed Forces have trained more than 40,000 Ukrainian security personnel so they can protect their people, their homeland, and their democracy. Russia is a threat not just to Ukraine but also to our European Allies. That’s why CAF members stationed in Latvia are also leading a Multinational Battlegroup made up of more than 4,000 troops from 10 NATO Allies, each dedicated to upholding the stability and security of Central and Eastern Europe. This is part of Operation REASSURANCE – Canada’s largest current international military operation. OPERATIONS AT HOME But there are also several operations that members of the Canadian Armed Forces undertake right here in our own backyard. Through Operation NANOOK, they conduct annual military exercises in Canada’s North, along with our Allies, to ensure that the Arctic is safe and secure. This allows military members to practice operating in a remote environment and in extreme weather conditions, in order to defend our northern regions. This is especially important as climate change is making our Arctic more accessible to both Ally and adversary alike. At home, members of the Royal Canadian Air Force are also responsible for rescuing and providing medical care to aviators, mariners, and others who are injured or in dangerous situations, often in remote or hard-to-reach areas. These people are called search and rescue technicians, or SAR Techs, for short. SAR Techs are experts in land and water survival. They specialize in rescue techniques like parachuting, diving, mountain climbing and helicopter rescue. Their dedication and strength is reflected in their motto, “That Others May Live.” It’s a philosophy we see echoed in the actions of SAR techs like Seargeant Vincent C-Benoit, Master Corporal Alexandre Fortin, and Master Corporal Matthew Henry. Last December, a plane went down about 300 kilometres north of Yellowknife. All three members parachuted into cold and windy conditions to assist the eight passengers and two crew members. They brought medical supplies, food and survival gear into the dark night. They tended to the injuries and built shelters to protect the passengers and crew from the harsh elements. And they kept them safe until morning when a helicopter was able to access the site. Because of these search and rescue technicians, all of the passengers and crew of this airplane survived the harsh night and were able to return home to their loved ones. CONCLUSION These are just a few stories of military members and Veterans who have served our country at home and abroad. And there are thousands more. Each person in uniform has made a difference, ensuring a safer and more peaceful world for us all. On Remembrance Day, please take a moment to reflect on their strength, their service and their sacrifice. You can do this by attending a Remembrance Day ceremony… Wearing a poppy over your heart… Or simply sharing these stories with your friends and family. I know this means a lot to all those in uniform – both past and present. They promised to stand on guard for us – at sea, on land, and in the air… And it is our promise to them that we will never forget. Lest We Forget. Thank you. In Flanders Fields By John McCrae (Read by LeeAnn Mytz) In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields. Last Post - Cam Marsland, Bugler Two Minutes Silence Lament - Daniel Locke, Piper  The Last Soldier
by Alden Solovy
(Read by Rotarian David Newman of the Winnipeg Downtown Rotary Club)
When the last soldier passes on,
When armies are disbanded and militias discharged,
When weapons are abandoned and armor discarded,
Your mission will, at last, be over.
For you know the soldier’s secret.
Yours was not a mission of war
Nor a mission of ruin.
Yours was not a mission of destruction
Nor a mission of death.
Your mission was safety, security, protection.
Your mission was honor, loyalty, service.
Your mission was to end violence, tyranny, despair.
When the last soldier passes on,
When the uniforms are retired and the final grave filled,
We will remember all who served and sacrificed for our nation.
May sustainable peace be with this world Reveille—Bugler |
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