Saying thanks is as easy as writing a postcard…

How do you say thank you for an idea as overwhelming as freedom? Natura honored soldiers this morning with an emotional ceremony that involved employees, the local community and Salvation Army.

As 11 am approached, all radios in the plant were shut off and O Canada filled the air. Employees gathered before a bulletin board to listen to a co-worker and Salvation Army Officer recite “In Flanders Fields.” A local grade 4/5 class sang O Canada and another Salvation Army officer played the last post on a bugle.

To wrap up the ceremony, staff learned about “Pillows for Troops” and the 88th Canadian soldier to die while serving in Afghanistan. Many people who had managed to keep their emotions in check to this point, lost that ability here.

Cpl. James Hayward Arnal died last July in Afghanistan and is the inspiration for the Pillows for Troops Campaign that kicks off next week in Winnipeg. If you haven’t been following the story, these posts will help you get up to speed quickly.

1. Pillows for Troops – The Comfort Campaign we want you join!
2. Pillows for Troops Part 2 – A fallen soldier through a mom’s eyes
3. Veteran’s and Remembrance Day – Honoring, celebrating and remembering

During the ceremony, the audience learned these facts about Canada’s involvement in peacekeeping around the globe:

• Almost 10% of Canada’s entire population served in the armed forces during World War One – nearly 60,000 died.
• The Canadian Navy began the war with a mere 6 ships, but policed half of the Atlantic against U-boat attacks.
• More than 120 Canadian warships participated in the Normandy landings, during which 15,000 Canadian soldiers went ashore on D-Day alone.
• Canada finished the war with the third largest navy and the fourth largest air force in the world.
• Canadians make up only 1% of the world’s population, but provide 10% of the world’s peacekeeping forces.
• Canadian soldiers have participated in 39 peacekeeping missions on UN mandates, 6 on non-UN peacekeeping duties.

How did you say thank you this morning?