Congratulations, Alyssa!

Today Alyssa presented a speech for the Magrath Lion's Club Remembrance Day speech competition and won! She spoke clearly and with great poise, intonation and conviction. It was delivered completely from memory. She has been asked to deliver her speech at the town Remembrance Day Ceremony next Tuesday. Good work, Alyssa! Here is the text of her speech in case you are interested:

"Would I be Willing?
In the Canadian 2008 election only 59.1 percent of Canadians came out to vote. What is wrong with us? Do we not care that people sacrificed on giant scale, and we can’t take 5 minutes out of our day to vote!! Canadians we need to fix this!

During World War I and World War II, Canadians sacrificed on many levels. For example, during World War II, everyday Canadians had to ration items such as sugar, tea, coffee, meat, and butter. They also planted victory gardens to supply food for the country and to support the war. They bought war bonds. Many people, including women, went to work in wartime industries. In World War I, 600,000 Canadians served in the Armed Forces and 60,000 of them never returned home. In World War II, over one million Canadians served in the armed forces and 43,988 of them were killed. Many others served in the Red Cross, the Merchant Marine and many other supporting services. Most of these people volunteered to serve their country and some even lied about their age or minor disabilities to be allowed to serve. For each individual serving overseas, there was a family that was separated—parents, spouses, siblings and children--who waited and worried. However, despite all these hardships and even when newspapers reported heavy casualties, Canadians were behind the war effort 100%. When looking back on the events of 1914-1918 and 1939-1945, I can only marvel at the unity, determination, self-sacrifice, love of democracy and of country that characterized Canadians of those times.

In contrast, our times have been times of prosperity. In fact, not only have I never had war affect me personally, neither have my parents or grandparents. We have been lucky enough for many years to have great opportunities to pursue our own interests and to increase in prosperity. Perhaps it is unavoidable that this prosperity would make us soft. We are beginning to forget our civic responsibilities. In the 2008 Canadian federal election, for example, only 59.1 percent of Canadians went out to vote. Some try to get out of jury duty and many find it hard to imagine military service. Our World War II veterans are in their 80s and the veterans of the First World War are gone. There is little to remind us of former days of sacrifice for the nation.


Recent economic turmoil, however, is leaving a lot of people wondering if more difficult times are ahead of us than younger people have ever experienced. In addition to world financial troubles, numerous conflicts are brewing around the world and could at any time involve Canadians in a large-scale basis. My generation’s challenges might be military, financial, environmental or social. Regardless of the nature of the trouble, my country may need me to sacrifice and contribute just as it needed my great-grandparents’ contribution. William Shakespeare said, “Be not afraid of greatness; some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have` greatness thrust upon them.” Perhaps it will only be in difficult times that my generation will be able to find out if it is capable of greatness. I truly hope that I will be ready and willing to do what it takes to serve my country in the twenty-first century. "