The following is my Remembrance Day speech:

Today, we are here to remember the service and the sacrifice of Canadian veterans past and present. The men and women of Canada who have stood for, fought for and died for their home, their country, and their values.

Somebody once asked me how many veterans we remember, how many do we honor, how many Canadians have been prepared to sacrifice, to give so that others might live?

My answer is: One, just one. The decision to go, the decision to serve was made by one, by only one. It was not a decision that could be made by anyone else. The sacrifice was made by one.

Yes, they stood and served—one, by one, by one, by one. The ones served as a team and as a unit. The ones bonded with pride and loyalty to become cohesive units, units that functioned as one.

But in the end the sacrifice was born one by one. The gift was given one by one. The gift was given by each one.

How many veterans served? How many should we remember? One, each one: Because the value of one life is unfathomable. Each one gave and each one served.

So how many of us should pay our respects, should remember, and should honor the sacrifice of past and present? One just one: one by one.

We should each remember the sacrifice and gift of freedom and life that was given. Each life should be remembered, and each one of us should say thank you for their gift, one by one, to each one of them.

We must never forget, with gratitude to our veterans: Thank you for everything, and God’s blessing on you.

Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 13:15