Ottawa, Ontario, Friday, July 1st, 2016

One hundred years ago, the 801 courageous men of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment went into battle for the first time.

For the vast majority of them, July 1, 1916, was also the last time they would go into battle.

More than 700 soldiers were killed, wounded or went missing.

Only 68 were able to answer roll call the next day.

The attack lasted only 30 minutes.

Beaumont-Hamel marked the beginning of the Battle of the Somme, which by its end four and a half months later would claim more than 24 000 Canadian and Newfoundland soldiers killed, wounded or missing.

It’s a story of extraordinary bravery and sacrifice, and of horrific human tragedy.

I felt this acutely during a ceremony I attended at the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial in France a little over four years ago.

It was a solemn occasion to lay a wreath on behalf of Canada, and to be accompanied by veterans and by hundreds of young Canadians at the ceremony.

Many of those young people were Newfoundlanders. I remember one group in particular from Corner Brook Regional High.

The students had brought a quilt with them that they had made in Corner Brook.

It said: We will remember, and it was colourfully decorated with all kinds of illustrations and messages from those students.

And there were two recurring symbols embroidered into that quilt:

the red maple leaf for Canada

and a little blue flower.

I’m sure many of you are familiar with the significance of the little blue flower.

They’re called forget-me-nots, and they’re symbols of remembrance in Newfoundland and Labrador, like the poppy.

The Battle of Beaumont-Hamel occupies a unique place in the collective memory of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Just as the Somme resonates so strongly in the hearts and memories of all Canadians.

Canada would not be the country it is today without the contributions of veterans.

As we celebrate the 149th birthday of this great country, let us remember the 100th anniversary of these terrible battles, and the courage of those who served. 

And as we remember, let’s also celebrate the bravery and brief lives of those soldiers.

And finally, let us recall the greatest, most hard-won lesson of the war:

Never again.

Lest we forget.

Thank you.