Tomorrow we will pause with heavy hearts for two minutes of silence at 11am to honour almost 1.7 million Canadian soldiers - women and men - who left our shores to serve in one (or both) of the two World Wars, Korea and/or 40 plus peacekeeping engagements since 1950.

Canada entered World War I - the war to end all wars - at its outset in 1914. Upon signing of the Armistice four years later on November 11, 1918, over 626,000 soldiers had served, 61,663 Canadians had laid down their lives and another 174,623 were wounded for the cause of our freedom.

By the start of World War II in 1939 over 58,000 Canadians had volunteered for armed service. By the end of the war - six long years later - in 1945, over 1.1 million Canadians had served in our forces with another 42,042 paying the ultimate price from Europe to Hong Kong for our freedom and 54,414 came home wounded and/or permanently disabled.

The Korean War saw 26,000 Canadians serve under the United Nations banner with 516 losing their lives in combat and 1,567 wounded. And we shouldn't forget over 118 deaths of Canadian peacekeepers - including 4 friendly fire deaths and two landmine fatalities in Afghanistan in the last two years - out of 100,000 soldiers who have served to keep and make the peace for over half a century.

When we count the graves, 104,343 Canadians died over the last 85 years in defence of our freedom and way of life. Here's what this sacrifice, their sacrifice, means in a typical day - each and every day - of our lives.

Your alarm clock goes off at 5:30 am blaring out the latest tunes. Artists are free to record what they want we have a plethora of station choices, thanks to their sacrifice.

A quick stretch and out you go for a morning run. No armed guards on your street corner, no restricted zones in your neighbourhood, thanks to their sacrifice.

After a shower and quick breakfast - no food rations thanks to their sacrifice - you top up your tank with gas. Again, no gas rations and the freedom to drive where you want and work for who you want - thanks to their sacrifice. Or if you hop the bus to work, you sit with people of all colours from all corners of the world whom we welcome to our shores - thanks to their sacrifice.

At the office you scan (well I do) the newspaper or channel surf the TV and countless opinions are offered up for and against the latest corporate merger or analysis supporting this policy thrust or criticizing that politician - thanks to their sacrifice.

Over lunch you debate local politics with a colleague, pick up the latest best selling paperback or simply soak up the late fall sun in quiet reflection in complete freedom with no fear of what you say, who might hear you or who may be watching - thanks to their sacrifice.

Back to work for an all afternoon conference call hashing out the latest corporate strategy with reps in three other cities with no fear of being bugged or shut down by the authorities - thanks to their sacrifice.

Back to the ‘burbs it's time to get the kids from school, drop them at basketball practice or the local music group, catch up on few missed calls … all before dinner - thanks to their sacrifice. After dinner and getting the kids to bed you're off to the local community association meeting planning a new playground or local charity fundraiser - thanks to their fundraiser.

Then late in the evening you spend some quiet time with your wife, husband or partner or by yourself before calling it a night and flaking out or plowing into that paperback you bought at lunch or reflecting on your day in quiet prayer to whatever you call your God - thanks to their sacrifice.

By all means, tomorrow, please remember them. And try to remember them every day … indeed the conduct of your daily lives - both good and bad, such is the nature of freedom - is in one sense a testament to their sacrifice.

And before you go to bed tonight, spare a few thoughts for the families of 3,678 soldiers stationed across the globe in ongoing missions. These missions include: 229 contributing to the fight against terrorism in and around the Middle East and four operations personnel in Tampa; 1,996 JTF2 fighters and others in Afghanistan; 1,192 soldiers in Bosnia-Herzegovina; 232 forces personnel in the Golan Heights, Cyprus Jerusalem and the Sinai; and 25 Canadians in Africa including the Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Senegal.

These women and men - both living and dead - represent the best that our country has to offer because of their historic and ongoing living sacrifice.

In April 1915, 1,000 Canadians died from poison gas - the first instance of its use in the history of war - at the second battle of Ypres in Belgium. This was the catalyst which led Dr. John McCrae to write his epic poem "In Flanders Fields." Let's collectively pray that future events never again inspire another Flanders Fields and never forget, our freedom is not free.