Statement made on 29 April 2009 by Senator Lucie Pépin (retired)
Hon. Lucie Pépin:
Honourable senators, the Trenton Military Family Resource Centre will hold its 5th Invisible Ribbon Gala on Saturday, May 2. The event will feature a gourmet dinner, live and silent auctions and entertainment.
The Resource Centre's goals in holding the gala are to create awareness and broaden the base of support for military families within the community and to raise the necessary funds to continue delivering quality programs that help military families in Trenton.
I congratulate the staff of the Resource Centre, who work very hard every year to make this event a success.
This is an excellent opportunity for the people of Trenton to come together to celebrate the military family and show their appreciation to the men, women and children who wear the invisible uniform.
Honourable senators, I invite you to support this event. We know that the success of our soldiers' mission depends in large measure on how well their families are supported. This sort of event is a unique opportunity to show the partners or spouses and the children of our soldiers that we are aware of the role they play and the many sacrifices they are called on to make.
Honourable senators, I have raised this issue more than once in this forum: Support for the families of our brave military personnel can be shown in a number of ways. If you meet military spouses, please shake their hands and say how much you admire and respect the way they are coping.
The uniform worn by military spouses and their families is invisible, but they are on duty just the same — standing tall, uncomplaining, proud and courageous.
They work hard and assume their responsibilities with passion, which allows their military spouses to perform their own jobs well within the Canadian Forces.
I am delighted to once again have the opportunity to tell them just how much we appreciate them and the important contribution they make.