Speaking Notes for

Greg Thompson, P.C., M.P.

(1) Presentation of Minister’s Commendations and
(2) Unveiling of Veterans’ Week 2006 Poster

Part I

Thank you, and good afternoon.

It's a pleasure to welcome all of you here today, especially our Honoured Veterans and their families.

Before I go any further, however, I hope you will allow me a moment to acknowledge the presence of a number of my colleagues -- MPs who wanted so much to be here that they have cleared their busy schedules this afternoon.

First there is Betty Hinton, my parliamentary secretary and a true friend of Veterans across this country...

As well, a number of MPs are here to see constituents receive their commendations:

• Dean Del Maestro (Peterborough)
• Paul Dewar (Ottawa Centre)
• Cheryl Gallant (Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke)
• Marlene Jennings (Notre-Dame-de-Grace-Lachine)
• Rick Norlock (Northumberland-Quinte West) and
• Brent St. Denis (Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing).

Also, I'd like to thank the Members of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, who have rescheduled their regular meeting this afternoon so they can also be here:

• Rob Anders (who is chairman)
• Brent St. Denis and Peter Stoffer (who are vice chairs)
• Rodger Cuzner,
• Roger Gaudet,
• Colin Mayes,
• Gilles Perron,
• Anthony Rota,
• Bev Shipley,
• David Sweet and
• Roger Valley.

Finally, I'd like to pay special tribute to a few previous recipients of the Commendation who are with us today:

• Lloyd Swick, a Second World War Veteran,
• Hallie Sloan, a Second World War Veteran, Nursing Sister, and
• Gordon Strathy, a Korean War Veteran.

I want to thank all of you for being here because this is a very special day for a number of reasons.

In a few minutes, we will unveil the Veterans' Week poster for 2006, an event that tells us Veterans' Week will soon be upon us.

But first we're going to present 11 very special Canadians with the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation. The theme of Veterans' Week this year is "Share the Story," and we have some remarkable stories to share today.

So it's fitting we are doing it here, in this historic place.

Before it became the Government of Canada Conference Centre, as I'm sure you know, for many, many years this was Ottawa's train station.

This building has witnessed a great deal of history, and when I see our Veterans and members of the Canadian Forces here today, I can't help but imagine what the scene must have been like in here during the First and Second World Wars.

Thousands of brave young Canadians boarding the troop trains -- on their way east to the ships that would carry them to the great battles overseas.

I'm sure you've all seen those pictures -- the faces in the train windows a mixture of sadness and excitement; the arms reaching out for one final touch of a loved one. Sadly, for so many, it would be the final touch. Understandably, their stories still touch us today.

Those young Canadians served Canada with honour and dedication. They stood up for the values we still cherish: Freedom. Democracy. Rule of Law.

Today, we also think of the brave Canadians who are carrying on that legacy of duty and honour in the quest for freedom in Afghanistan.

Those young men and women in uniform are an example to all Canadians -- and so are the people we honour today with these Commendations.

Now, a little history: The Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation was created in 2001, by warrant of the Governor General and with the approval of the Queen.

The warrant says it is to be "…awarded to individuals who have performed commendable service to the Veteran community and individuals who represent commendable role models for their fellow Veterans."

That's a pretty abbreviated description. And it therefore barely begins to tell the story of these people. People who have contributed so much of their time – so much of themselves -- to the care of our Veterans, and to keeping alive the memory of our Veterans' great sacrifices and achievements.

Most often, these Commendations are presented to Veterans, but in exceptional cases, they can be awarded to civilians.

Our other recipients today are all Veterans who have served Canada in uniform, and whose service to Canada did not end when they took off that uniform.

Helen Bolton-Guy was a member of Canada's Reserve army, and she's also the daughter and the sister of Veterans.

Maxine Bredt, Glenn Brown and Lionel Bourcier are Veterans of the Second World War.

General Paul Manson is a former Chief of the Defence Staff. Pierre Bruneau and William Lilly have nearly 60 years' service in the Canadian Forces between them.

John Eden retired from the Royal Canadian Navy, but he's never retired from his dedication to preserving Canada's military air history.

Each of today's recipients has a different story – and we'll hear them in just a moment when we make the presentations – but in a way, they are the same story. Each one is a story of dedication, of generosity, of service. It is an understanding that the more we give of ourselves, the more we give to ourselves.

Their service has enriched many lives, but I'm sure every one of them will tell you that their own lives are the richer for it.

As Woodrow Wilson once said: "If you will think about what you ought to do for other people, your character will take care of itself."

Today's recipients certainly show us what character is all about. They have honoured others all their lives. Today, it is my great pleasure to honour them with the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation.

(presentation of commendations)

Part II

Thank you all again.

Each year, as part of commemorating the sacrifice and achievement of Canada's Veterans, we issue a poster to illustrate the theme of Veterans' Week.

This year, the theme is "Share the Story," and you would all agree – I'm sure – that we've heard some wonderful stories here this afternoon.

There are many more stories to be told – one for each of Canada's Honoured Veterans. And it's important to hear these stories, because as much as we can learn from the history books, it is the people who were there that really make our history come alive – that give our history a personal meaning. And as you'll see in a moment, this year's poster captures that personal feeling very well. The personal stories of our Honoured Veterans make us ask ourselves if I, if we could have responded the way they did.

And as we ponder that question, we realize just how extraordinary these ordinary people are, and just how large a debt we owe, that Canada owes, to our Veterans. This year, and every year, we encourage all Canadians, especially young Canadians, to reach out to our Veterans. Listen to their stories, and share their stories with others.

You'll learn about them, you'll learn about Canada, and you will learn something about yourself.

Now, I would like to ask our Minister's Commendation recipients to come forward and together we will unveil this year's poster.

(poster unveiling)