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As Canadians, we owe our Veterans a debt of gratitude we can never repay. For this reason, it is important for Canadians to show their support and gratitude to these same men and women who risked and continue to risk everything so that we could continue to enjoy our freedom and peaceful way of life.

VAC is pleased to provide a forum for people to share their thoughts about our Veterans and the 60th Anniversary of the Italian Campaign. VAC reserves the right to review messages for content before they are posted on the site. Please note messages posted on the Message Board will not be responded to by the Department. Click here to leave a message». For general inquiries please contact information@vac-acc.gc.ca

Thanks beyond words

Message: As a child growing up during the war years I was shielded from what was going on and had little appreciation of the involvement of my three older siblings. To this day the Italian Campaign has been the aspect of the war about which I have known the least. I am therefore grateful for this site.

This past June I had the privilege of visiting briefly in Calgary with my brother Stanley George Squires, now 80, who served in the Royal Canadian Service Corps in Italy. For an all-too-brief time I had an opportunity to ask him about his involvement, at a time when he appeared willing to talk about it. With characteristic modesty he spoke of the horrendous tasks in which his unit had been involved.

To have been able to speak about these events with my brother was a rare privilege that has only deepened the respect and admiration I feel for him. It is my hope that others with stories to tell will be able to share them with their loved ones, and perhaps even tell them by way of this site so that many may come to have a deeper appreciation of the unfathomable thanks we owe.

Ron Squires, 65
Ottawa

Social Studies in Public Schools

Message: Thank you for your wonderful coverage of the Remembrance Day ceremonies; you always do such a beautiful job. It was especially wonderful seeing the enphasis of high school students attending and being proud of their fellow Canadians.

I am saddened on this Remembrance Day, however, by the state of our public schools and how our history is taught in the years leading up to high school. I am 24 years old and am studying Political Science and French, no thanks to my pre-highschool Social Studies classes that were really boring. Canada has a wonderful history that needs to be taught with enthusiasm and respect. Otherwise, it doesn't capture the imagination and understanding of young children.

I remember that the one topic I was really interested in studying in school was in grade four when we discussed the Red River Rebellion and Louis Riel. Since I am from Calgary, AB, it was a particularily important time in out country's young life.

Other than this topic, I only remember colouring in maps and that Canada is pink; if you colour it any other way, you get in trouble.

I really hope that by the time I have children, and sooner if possible, public schools will make Social Studies and History classes interesting so that Remembrance Day and other important issues in our history are given the respect they deserve and our children understand where they came from.

"Lest we forget"? First, they have to know.

Melissa R. Knive, 24
Wolfville, NS, Canada

Remembering from abroad

Message: As an expat now living in the US, this is my first Remembrance Day abroad.

I was able to listen to the ceremony in Ottawa on CBC, however it's not the same as being there. I'm also thankful for this virtual space, as it provides a wonderful resource for those of us who can't go out to services.

Today I thank all our veterans for their sacrifice, especially those of the Italian Campaign, and hope all members of my generation will continue to honour veterans of all Canadian campaigns.

Adrienne Winn, 31
Florida, USA

Thank You

Message: Thank you to all vets for letting us enjoy our freedoms and life here in Canada. We should always remember and be thankful

Caren Weinstein, 45
Smiths Falls

Thank You Pop Pop

Message: Every year, I give thanks to my grandfather but last year we had a really good talk about WWII and the thing he'd endured to fight for us to be free. Scary stories of 500 lb bombs falling on a house they were hiding in. Guns everywhere. Stepping over the deceased because they had to continue. I could never in my wildest dreams imagine what he's and others have lived through. We had made him a memories book with pictures of him and his friends in Germany 5 minutes out of combat. All his pictures from overseas. He didn't even have to open it to know what it was. He's clever. My Pop Pop's (grandfather) name is Eugene Vaillancourt II and he was a dispatcher in WWII. He's since passed away in May 04 but I will never forget the valuable lessons he's taught me. He is my Hero and I've never quite known any man like him. The nightmares of the war were enough to have driven a man crazy but he dealt with it and talked to me about them alot. Now I can teach my daughter how we got our freedom and that her Pop Pop spent a very long time getting it for us. As I sit here and cry, I not only want to thank my grandfather, but everyone who fought so hard for us. Some do take advantage of it yes, but let me tell you, some of us have a deep respect for veterans and soldiers and today I say thank you to you, thank you to my grandfather. I very much miss his stories. Lest we forget...ever!

Jody from Ontario Canada, 30
Northeastern Ontario Canada