Good morning everyone.
On behalf of the Canadian Government and as your federal representative, I appreciate this opportunity and this honour to say a few words on this significant occasion—and especially to the Fitzpatrick family and friends and all those who have fallen in service.
Rightly so, today’s ceremony will memorialize a brave soldier, CPL DARREN FITZPATRICK. This young man whose character exemplifies what it means to have a persevering courage, a profound strength and dedication to duty and country—a soldier at the service of peace—to the point of sacrifice of his life on March 20, 2010.
Many of us, indeed most of us, will never be called to that ultimate sacrifice—but 157 of our Canadian men and women did and exclusively in service for the security and freedom of peoples. Today’s ceremony and the dedication of this place will be forever in honour of Darren, not only in memory, but also in name, here in the Cpl Darren Fitzpatrick Bravery Park.
Thank you.
