Minister of Veterans Affairs reflects on Remembrance Day week

The Minister of Veterans Affairs, Kent Hehr, attended last Wednesday the first events of a week and a half of celebrations leading to Remembrance Day, this Friday, November 11th.

The Minister consider these celebrations to be nothing less than a blessing.

“I often get thanked for being present at these events, and I keep saying it is me who is thankful for being invited. It is an honour to attend these events and pay my respects to veterans and servicemembers across Canada,” explained Hehr.

The Minister is particularly thankful for his opportunity to meet with students and help them understand the importance of remembering and honouring our fallen soldier and current service members.

“I am dedicated, and so is my team, to help build a better Canada, and challenge Canadians to take actions in this direction as well,” he said.

“It certainly is one of the thrills of my position to meet with the younger generation, and I often challenge my staff to get me into more schools. It is of great importance to ensure the next generation pays due respect to veterans and armed force personnel and to help them understand the challenges and sacrifices our soldiers and their families have and still make in the name of our freedom,” he added.

The Minister also used this opportunity to reflect on the many areas of concern and the many projects his team have been and will be working on with regards to improving the life of veterans across the country.

“I was given clear directions on November 4th in a mandate letter comprising 15 points, including but not limited to increasing employment and educational opportunities for veterans, increasing accessibility to mental and physical health support and to better financial security for veterans and their families,” said the minister.

A mandate he is certainly very passionate in pursuing.

“It is clear to me we need to make things better for the men and women who have served our country, but for their families as well. It is such an exciting week for me to touch base with so many Canadians and embrace the spirit of recognizing our military members,” he concluded.

The Minister of Veterans Affairs will conclude his weeklong activities by attending the official National Cenotaph ceremony to be held in Ottawa on Friday morning.