Remembering the new generation of veterans

As the nation prepares to again pay tribute to its war veterans with Remembrance Day ceremonies, a number of news agencies across the country are again addressing questions associated with those we honour and why we honour them.

Centered in Europe, World War One, resulted in the deaths of more than nine million combatants and seven million civilians, but it ended on the 11^th day of the 11^th month in 1918.

Thus we are now several years removed from the death of the last Canadian veteran who survived that war, and there’s also a growing realization we’re not far removed from the time when there will be no survivors of World War II or the Korean War.

While those who fought and gave their all in those wars, will forever deserve our respect and gratitude, it is worth remembering those wars were also arguably fought with a greater sense of general public moral purpose, than the wars fought in more recent years.

However, it is also worth remembering that doesn’t diminish in any way, the need to recognize the new generation of veterans, who faced the same war dangers and consequences, and therefore deserve the same respect and gratitude.

One them, a B.C. military veteran, has just concluded a cross country horseback ride in an attempt to show the nation the changing face of veterans, and he spoke recently with CKNW’S Shelby Thom.

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Initiatives like this are not an attempt to steal honor from those who fought so bravely for their country in the 1940’s and 1950’s. It is rather an attempt to add to their ranks, with equal honor, the veterans who fought bravely for their country in more recent wars.