Statement made on 05 November 2009 by Senator Roméo Dallaire
Hon. Roméo Antonius Dallaire:
Honourable senators, November 11 is Remembrance Day, the day we reflect on the sacrifices made by Canadians during the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War.
Since the end of the Cold War, now 20 years ago, the Canadian Armed Forces have been in war zones and have taken causalities to the extent that we now have a number of Canadian Forces who have more combat time than those who served in the Second World War. We now have more veterans of the new generation who have served in combat zones, UN peacekeeping missions and other missions around the world, than we have Korean veterans.
We find ourselves at a time when we address those who are committed to the sacrifices of the conflict zones in our name, and recognize them fully at those opportunities of remembrance.
Major Luc Racine was one of the 12 reinforcements who came to me in 1994 and, within the span of 42 hours, had saved an orphanage full of children. The only casualty was the journalist who was attached to him — and he was shot in one unspeakable place.
Major Racine subsequently took command of a small battalion of unequipped Canadians and took over the humanitarian protection zone, which had within it 1.6 million internal refugees. He coordinated the humanitarian protection, support and, ultimately, the transfer to the Rwandan government.
Major Racine continued to serve in the Armed Forces in peacekeeping and peacekeeping training, and suffered the injury of post-traumatic stress disorder. A few months ago, Major Racine committed suicide.
Major Luc Racine is a veteran and he is one of my heroes.