November 5, 2008

OTTAWA—Ninety years ago, at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, the hostilities of the First World War came to an end. The Armistice had been signed six hours earlier, at Rethondes, in the Forest of Compiègne, aboard the train of Marshal Ferdinand Foch, supreme commander of the Allied troops.

Remembrance Day came about as a way to commemorate the end of the Great War—six million dead, including more than 66 000 Canadians; 20 million wounded; others disabled, mutilated, widowed, orphaned—and the battles that have been fought since then.

For some of us, November 11 reminds us of parents or grandparents who shared their memories of that armistice in 1918. For others, this historic day reminds us that the sacrifices made by our soldiers, sailors and air personnel paved the way for greater autonomy for Canada. Everyone agrees: our valiant troops played an essential role in the Allied effort that won the Great War, and those that would follow, through their courageous selflessness and extraordinary bravery, at the cost of their very lives.

On this Remembrance Day, let us honour the memory of every woman and man who has fought against tyranny and dictatorship. May this day serve to express our gratitude, respect and constancy. Lest we forget!

Michaëlle Jean

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Media Information:
Marie-Ève Létourneau
Rideau Hall Press Office
613-998-0287
www.gg.ca
www.citizenvoices.gg.ca