VIMY RIDGE, France -- Yesterday marked the 88th anniversary of Vimy Ridge. In Canada, events in honour of this landmark battle were held across the country, including a wreath-laying at the National War Memorial in Ottawa.
"During this time, we are once again reminded that we still have an enormous debt to earlier generations of Canadians," said Veterans Affairs Minister Albina Guarnieri.
"It is a debt we cannot pay back, so we have to pay it forward.
"We have to remember and honour those who gave their lives so that we could live free from fear and occupation.
"We have to make sure our country is a country with a soul formed by the sacrifices of generations and a future worthy of that trust."
Fitting words in this Year of the Veteran, but are we living up to Guarnieri's challenge?
More than 750,000 people visit the Vimy Memorial near Arras in northern France every year, but only a paltry 3% of them are Canadian.
A poll released this week by Decima Research revealed that 33% of Canadians could identify Vimy Ridge as "Canada's most important single victory in the First World War."
Even 24% of those aged 18 to 34 got it right.
That sounds impressive until you learn the poll, conducted for the Dominion Institute, gave respondents clues to the right answer with the tip-off that "it consisted of the capture of a key ridge on the western front."
It even gave them several answers to choose from: Vimy Ridge, Dieppe, the Somme or D-Day.
Cliff Chadderton, who is chairman of the National Council of Veterans Associations in Canada, has an emotional attachment to Vimy Ridge.
His father, Martin Chadderton, served in the battle as a signalman at the age of 17.
"You can see the monument up on the ridge from miles away," Chadderton said. "When you first see it, it gives you a lump in your throat. The way Vimy stands out on the skyline, you can't help but say those were remarkable guys.
"Vimy is symbolic of a group of World War I vets who for $1.10 a day went through the nastiest war you could imagine."
On a superficial level, Canadians seem to concur with Chadderton, 87, who lost a leg after serving in some of Second World War's toughest battles.
In another poll question released by the Dominion Institute, 85% of Canadians believe we should not allow First World War veterans to pass away without doing something to keep the memory of their sacrifices alive.
And seven of 10 respondents agree "Canada needs to rebuild its military if we want to be taken seriously in international affairs."
But in these troubling times, the federal government has overextended our Armed Forces while starving it of funding needed to ensure it has the troops and equipment to do the job demanded of it.
"I'm a foe of continuous warfare to settle our differences, but sometimes it's necessary," said Chadderton, who was scheduled to attend yesterday's Vimy Ridge commemoration ceremony in Ottawa.
"If the Americans, Brits and our other former allies are there, I might get tagged as a warmonger, but we've got to do our part," he said.
"It's hurting our reputation on the world stage."
You might not agree with Chadderton, but it has become disturbingly obvious that Canada's impact on world affairs has become seriously diminished.
By appearing to stand for everything, without being prepared to back up our words with actions, we stand for nothing. We might not agree with our allies on all issues surrounding peace and conflict around the globe, but by operating from a position of virtual helplessness defensively, we wind up with little say.
Canada has neglected its military to a degree that it is regarded as a freeloader in terms of international security and defence, content to rely on its powerful friends while criticizing their every move.
If we do not take steps to correct this sad state of affairs, there is a real danger we could end up sacrificing that influence on the world stage earned by the blood and sacrifice of our troops at Vimy Ridge so long ago.
