Paying tribute to our fallen
Mayor's Report
By Marolyn Morrison

"I am on a ship headed for Europe with my comrades. We are young men going off to war. I ask myself why? Why would we leave the security of Canada, our homes and families? I could say we are going for the adventure, but deep inside I know it is more than that. It has to do with our commitment to our country and our allies. It has to do with atrocities that are being committed to human beings and how we have a responsibility to help people less fortunate, but most of all it has to do with patriotism and the love of Canada. As I look out upon the ocean that is carrying us to something that is both exciting and frightening I know that I have to do this for my fellow Canadians."

Remembrance Day is coming. We will be remembering those who have gone before us to help keep our freedom. The words above are from my grandfather who as a young man fought for Canada in World War I. My grandfather kept diaries. They are small little books with the words A Soldier's Diary on the front cover. My grandfather wrote these diaries starting on the ship that took him to war and he continued to write about his feelings throughout his journey, and at some of the more famous battles such as Vimy Ridge.

He talks about living in the trenches for days and days while it rained and the water and mud was up to their hips. He talks about trying to eat their rations and having to fight off the rats because they wanted to eat their food also. One day he wrote about how they decided it was in their (the soldiers) best interest to share their rations with the rats rather than fight the rats off.

Canada has taken on a different role in its military and that role is more of a peacekeeper or keeping the peace. Unfortunately the world is changing and Canada's role is changing again. Although the newspapers only want to print the sensational part of what is going on in the world and that is the conflict part, Canada is fulfilling its mandate in doing wonderful things throughout the world.

In Afghanistan 75% of our military are reconstructing the country; by that I mean building roads, bridges, hospitals, schools and finding potable water (they have provided more than 1,000 wells with clean drinking water). The remaining 25% are in a combat role to protect the 75% who are helping to rebuild the country.

For me it is closer to home than for the average person because I have two sons in the military. One is an officer and engineer and was deployed on tour to Afghanistan last year returning the end of February this year. Our other son joined last December and may be deployed next August to Afghanistan.

It is now almost Remembrance Day and it has definitely an impact on my family and many other families that I know. We have either had relatives in the Armed Forces or closer to us, our children. Please make sure that we pay the respect that is due to the veterans who have lost their lives, to help others and to those who have served to try to improve the living conditions for those less fortunate.

Lest We Forget.