Service Before Self
Remembrance Day ceremonies held in communities across the country, complete with moments of silence, laying of wreaths, or seeing our colours are, for many of us, powerful symbolic gestures that can evoke intense emotions. Our memories can be a mix of emotions from anger or grief and guilt, to an emotionally flat numbing. There is a reflection not only of the lives lost in war but the sacrifices of bodies, minds, and spirits destroyed for something beyond self-interest. It may cause us to ask ourselves, what attitudes, beliefs, and values define us as Canadians that is worth defending?
Although many Members in the Reserve Force or Veterans serve as Police Officers, Firefighters, or Paramedics, whether you have served in the Military or not, all First Responders share a common bond of service and sacrifice to our communities and country. Reflecting on this over the year, Remembrance Day has extended for me beyond my own service in the Military to encompass the service and sacrifices made by other First Responders as well. As a Police Officer, Paramedic, Firefighter, or other First Responder, you operate on the frontlines of our communities. The unique challenges of service and a shared sense of duty connects us across the different things we do or have done.
Whether you have served in the Military or not, all First Responders share a common bond of service and sacrifice.
Grief & Gratitude
Memories of the difficult times that brought us together often became the greatest times of our lives. However, there are memories that also remind us of the costs. The experiences of loss shared by Members of the Military and other First Responders are intertwined. We have witnessed the toll service can take on families, other beside us, and ourselves. These memories are not just tied to a love that others outside of service often cannot understand, but can be tied to events that might cause us to question our service. Moral injuries from service can impact us in service and continue long after release.
As we approach Remembrance Day, the mix of emotions this day can cause should not be experienced in isolation. Grief and gratitude can often coexist, revealing the connections we share with others. In moments of loss, the support and presence of our community can foster a sense of gratitude for the relationships we cherished, reminding us that we are not alone. When we believe that we belong to something greater than any challenge, everything is possible. Who do you need next to you?
When we believe that we belong to something greater than any challenge, everything is possible.
Community & Connection
Service and sacrifice return us to an ethos embedded not in cloth, but attitudes, beliefs, and values that go beyond words. An ethos we must be committed to in the actions we choose to take. We represent everything embedded in our shared ethos, whether we are in uniform or on civvy street, we remain symbols of our service.
Remembrance Day should raise the question about what makes a country worth sacrificing for and, by extension, why we should value being Canadian. It serves as a reminder that being Canadian involves a shared responsibility to uphold the attitudes, beliefs, and values that build a shared sense of connection, not division.
We recognize that what we love is worth setting aside our own self-interests. We must celebrate Remembrance Day daily by continually asking ourselves whether we live in accordance with the attitudes, beliefs, and values that shape our moral compass. We must continue to consider how we can invest in ourselves and others to foster a better future.
