Donna James
Canada…I love our Country! I love how diverse we are and the opportunities and freedom we are so fortunate to have.
What I don’t love though is seeing the way our Veterans are struggling. These are the very people who sacrificed EVERYTHING so that we could enjoy all that we love and have today. In order for us to have all the freedoms we are so fortunate to have and give us a country full of opportunity, hundreds of thousands lost their lives, paying the ultimate sacrifice!
We are a country where we embrace and help others who are seeking refuge from countries that don’t offer any of that security. Countries where they are in constant danger. And that is just one other thing that I love about our Country.
BUT… when I read, hear and see that the Veterans… OUR VERY OWN Canadian Veterans are STILL facing battles…. right in their OWN Country, it sickens me. How they have to fight for medical treatment. Fight for emotional and mental support and care, often out of necessity because of all they endured and experienced while they were out there fighting in unimaginable conditions to serve our Country! How they face a daily battle in hopes of one day having a roof over their head! How they struggle for the basic necessities.
I completely understand that it is Canada’s nature to welcome and offer protection to those from other countries where they face danger on a daily basis; and we can continue to do so. But how is it that our government will so readily provide protection to those who come INTO our country yet not do the same for those who FOUGHT FOR and MADE our Country what it is? Tell me, how is it that these men and women who have made the ULTIMATE sacrifice for OUR Country, who are now left suffering, facing their own physical, emotional and mental difficulties without ANY support, are secondary and less of a priority than those who are wanting to enter our Country.
By no means am I saying that we need to stop bringing others into our Country. My point is that we need to do better. We need to start taking care of our own first; the ones who fought to take care of their country and make them our first priority. We would not be the great Country we are if it wasn’t for the sacrifice our Veterans have so selflessly offered. They stood up and fought for our freedoms… now the government needs to stand up and provide our Veterans with the freedom to live the quality of life they so greatly deserve!
Thank you to our Veterans for all that you have given us!
