Veterans deserve our support year-round

Today, Nov. 11, is a day for reflection and respect. To remember and offer tribute to the service and sacrifice shown by all those who have paid the ultimate price while serving in Canada’s Armed Forces — from the trenches of Beaumont-Hamel and the beaches of Normandy to the mountains and deserts of Afghanistan, and other conflicts throughout the nation’s history.

However, it is also a day to take a moment to remember those still serving today. Our freedoms and democracy continue to depend on the voluntary commitment and bravery of those who step forward to join the military, and their families who stand alongside them. We know this service can come at a heavy price, with wounds both visible and unseen, and challenges to family life and reintegration post service.

It is also therefore a day to look ahead, to ask if we are creating the best environment for our Forces members and veterans to thrive and be supported beyond their time in uniform, and to do all we can to meet this challenge, not just on Remembrance Day but throughout the year.

As chief executive of True Patriot Love, Canada’s national foundation for the military community, I had the enormous privilege to attend the D-Day 80th anniversary ceremonies on Juno Beach in Normandy this past June. My father had himself landed in France in 1944 and I was honoured to be there with Canadian veterans from WW2 and from more recent conflicts, and to see the shared respect and admiration for each other on their faces.

The sense of pride and purpose in service is powerful to witness but that service can exact a toll on bodies and minds, sometimes permanently. True Patriot Love invests in a range of programs across Canada that provide support to serving and retired members of the Armed Forces at every stage of their journey. We also invest in programs that support their families because it is crucial to recognize that when one person wears the uniform, the whole family serves, too.

In my work for True Patriot Love, I get to meet incredible members of the Armed Forces, like Cpl. Kiernan Underwood, a member of Team Canada for the forthcoming Invictus Games in Vancouver and Whistler in February. True Patriot Love is proud to be a founding partner of the games and is the main funder of Soldier On and the Canadian team. Kiernan was told he would never run again owing to his injuries and yet he persevered on his journey of recovery. Not only was he selected for Team Canada, but he also ran the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. last month — his first-ever marathon.

I ran alongside Kiernan and four other injured runners from Invictus as they competed. It was a humbling experience, underlining why True Patriot Love does the work we do.

Collectively, we all have an obligation to build a network of support for military and their families. We must take care of those who have afforded us the freedoms we enjoy. We want our military to know that if they require support — whether it’s rehabilitation, adaptive sports, couples counselling, day camp for their children, or service dogs — we have their backs.

Part of that support is ensuring a pathway for life after service. It is essential for military members that their service is perceived not as detrimental, but as a valuable foundation for a successful career out of uniform. True Patriot Love has been piloting a veteran hiring program with the support of the Government of Ontario and we hope to roll this out to other provinces next year, because business, industries and communities all benefit when we are able to understand and leverage the huge array of skills and experiences acquired through military service.

We celebrate companies who are champions of veterans, who are making their workplaces ready to attract and retain veteran employees who may have had a very different work experience but who have eminently transferrable skills and a laser-focus on achieving goals and supporting their team. When we welcome employees with military experience, we ultimately support recruitment and strengthen the public’s connection with the military.

Imagine the potential for Canada and for young Canadians who may be inspired to join our military, knowing not only that they can serve their country but that there are viable careers ahead for them once they release, and support available in their communities if needed. The strength of our Armed Forces and the public mandate they receive is paramount for the future of this country and its role on the global stage.

Today we pause for two minutes of silence in reflection, respect and remembrance. After the silence, let’s remember our responsibility to raise our voices in support of those who have given so much.

Nick Booth is the CEO of the True Patriot Love Foundation.

This editorial was originally published in the National Post.