Liberal Statement on the Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge

April 9, 2014

OTTAWA AND VIMY – The Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, Justin Trudeau, issued the following statement today on the 97th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge:

“Today is a day of reflection and solemn remembrance of the sacrifices made by Canada’s soldiers during the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

“At Vimy, Canada accomplished an irreversible shift in the tide of the Great War, and thereby earned its place among the nations of the world. It is as difficult to overstate the significance of this moment in Canadian history as it is to adequately express our gratitude to the thousands of Canadian soldiers who faced such adversity during the battle. The victory came at a terrible cost, however, with over 10,000 causalities.

“On behalf of the Liberal Party of Canada and our Parliamentary Caucus, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the brave men and women who have sacrificed on behalf of our country.”

Liberal Veterans Affairs Critic, Frank Valeriote, stated:

“On this day, let us honour the memory of those Canadians who fought in all past conflicts. We reaffirm our commitment to the well-being of Canada’s veterans, many of whom still bear the physical and invisible scars of their service upon returning home.

“I am humbled and honoured to be at Vimy Ridge today as we honour our brave Canadians soldiers who sacrificed so greatly for their country during the First World War. Lest we forget.”