Address by the Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper

Thank you very much everybody. I also, in his absence, thank Peter for his kind introduction. Greetings to Premier McGuinty, to former Premier Davis, to former Prime Minister Clark, to Lieutenant Governor Onley, Lieutenant Governor Weston, to Generals Natynczyk, MacKenzie and Hillier, colleagues from the Parliament of Canada, members of the diplomatic community, honoured guests of the head table, men and women of the Canadian Forces of course, all of you ladies and gentlemen.

First of all, let me begin by congratulating everyone who had a hand in putting together the inaugural True Patriot Love gala dinner. I (applause), I salute the organizers for their hard work and their sponsors for their generous support of the men, women and families of the Canadian Forces.

Des événements comme celui-ci, des manifestations publiques de soutien à nos militaires et à leurs familles se multiplient au Canada depuis quelques années. En fait l’appréciation publique de nos militaires est peut-être plus grande aujourd’hui qu’elle ne l’a été depuis la deuxième guerre mondiale.

Events like this, public expressions of support for our troops and their families have flourished across Canada in recent years. In fact, public appreciation for our military may be higher today than at any time since the Second World War. (Applause) You know, I attended one of the first Red Friday rallies back in the fall of 2006. More than 10,000 people assembled in front of the Parliament Buildings. The vast sea of red was living proof of the powerful loyalty and love, the true patriot love that Canadians have for our country and for the special people who defend it.

We have seen that love and loyalty expressed in countless other ways by groups and individuals from coast to coast to coast. Through thousands of personal letters and gifts sent to our troops in Afghanistan, through generous donations to initiatives like the Military Families Fund, through spontaneous displays of respect and compassion such as the solemn vigils we see along the Highway of Heroes when our fallen soldiers return for their final journey and through the rising attendance at annual Remembrance Day ceremonies in communities large and small right across Canada. Indeed a joint Historic Dominion, Dominion Institute survey released just this week finds that nearly five million Canadians plan to attend a Remembrance Day ceremony this year up from four million last year. (Applause)

I believe that such displays of affection and respect for our troops are part of who we are as a people. We know in our hearts that we owe our freedom, our democracy and our prosperity to the millions of Canadians who by serving in our Armed Forces have kept the True North strong and free for over two centuries. (Applause) And that’s why events like the True Patriot Love gala attracts such tremendous support from loyal Canadians like everyone here tonight.

Le principal bénéficiaire de cet appel de fonds sera le fonds pour les familles des militaires. Cette noble initiative lancée par le général Hillier en 2007, augmente le soutien institutionnel offert aux membres du service militaire et à leurs familles par les forces canadiennes et le gouvernement du Canada.

The principal beneficiary of this fundraiser will be the Military Families Fund. This, go ahead, (applause) this noble initiative launched by General Hillier in 2007, augments the institutional support provided to military servicemen and women and their families by the Canadian Forces and the Government of Canada. It is inspired by the recognition that the Canadian Forces are a family, not just of brothers and sisters in arms, but of wives and husbands, mothers, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, friends and neighbours, the vast network of Canadians who form the extended family of our men and women in uniform.

Napoleon famously said that an army marches on its stomach. No doubt that’s true, but it succeeds on the strength of its morale and the single most important source of strong morale is the love and support of the people back home. I’ve heard this (applause), I’ve heard this many times from our troops during my visits to Afghanistan and to Army, Navy and Air Force bases in every part of Canada. I’ve heard it, we’ve heard it tonight from fallen soldiers, injured soldiers who say it was essential to their recovery and we’ve heard it from the families of the fallen soldiers who say it helped them cope with their unspeakable grief.

Despite the extreme dangers and enormous frustrations of the mission in Afghanistan, despite the fact that we have been there almost as long as we were in two world wars combined, our military commanders report, and I’ve witnessed it myself, that the morale of our troops remains extremely high in the field.

Nos, (applaudissement) nos militaires sont extrêmement fiers et avec raison de leur performance en Afghanistan mais plus que toute autre chose, ils gardent le morale en sachant qu’ils bénéficient de l’amour et du soutien indéfectible de leurs familles, de leurs amis et de leurs communautés, de leur gouvernement et de leurs concitoyens.

Our troops are fiercely and justifiably proud of their performance in Afghanistan, but more than anything else, their morale is sustained by the knowledge that they have the unequivocal love and support of their families, friends and communities, of their government and of their fellow citizens. For this reason, the Government of Canada will make a contribution this evening to the Military Families Fund. Now I should you this donation is being made at the request of their Royal Highnesses, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, whom I met with this morning, and it’s being done in lieu of the customary official gift offered during royal visits. It will be for an amount of $250,000. (Applause)

Now, if you will permit me, I want to conclude tonight with a story that illustrates all the themes I’ve touched on. It is a storage of courage, sacrifice, family and true patriot love. It’s also a story partly told you already by Don Cherry. I knew he would steal my thunder somehow. (Laughter) In any case, it is a story of Master Corporal Jody Mitic, who lost both his legs to a landmine in Afghanistan on January 11, 2007 and of Sergeant Alannah Gilmore, the medic who attended to his wounds on that fateful day. The traumatic experience they shared bonded them for life. They have been together ever since and today they are the proud parents of a beautiful 1-year old baby girl and of course, they are our two most honoured guests at the head table tonight. (Applause)

Now ladies and gentlemen, I’m going to ask you all to rise and to join me in a toast to these two Canadian heroes and in their name to all like them. Jody and Alannah, on behalf of everyone here and Canadians everywhere, you’re an inspiration to us all. Please accept our profound gratitude for the sacrifices you have made and for your true patriot love and we salute you, both of you, with the official toast of Jody’s Royal Canadian Regiment, Pro Patria.

Once again ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for having me tonight. Merci beaucoup. God bless the men and women of our forces. God bless Canada.