With 2023 being the 75th anniversary of United Nations peacekeeping, the Veteran鈥檚 Affairs theme for this year鈥檚 Veteran鈥檚 Week is 鈥淚n the Service of Peace.鈥�

Canada has a long history of helping defend and maintain peace around the world, and more than 125,000 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members, including members from 19 Wing Comox, have served in international peacekeeping efforts in dozens of countries.

As we prepare for the Royal Canadian Air Force 2024 Centennial, it is important to take a moment to recognize the RCAF鈥檚 contributions to Canada鈥檚 peacekeeping efforts. The first mission with Air Force participation was the United Nations Commission on Korea in 1950. Since then, the RCAF has participated in over 100 peacekeeping missions, including the first United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) established in 1956 to respond to the Suez crisis, to the current ongoing operations in the Sinai Peninsula (OP CALUMET). I am proud to say our personnel here at 19 Wing Comox have answered, and continue to answer, the call to serve in these missions abroad. Our aircrews and our supporting personnel continue to contribute to Canada鈥檚 peacekeeping operations around the world.

Closer to home, 19 Wing Comox personnel have returned to in-person school and community organization visits throughout the Comox Valley and North Island in support of the Veterans Week Speakers Program. This initiative provides an opportunity for our personnel to share their experiences of service with Canadians and to remind them of the service of those who have gone before us. This will culminate on Nov.11 with annual services of remembrance in our communities. On behalf of all the members of the 19 Wing Defence Team, I encourage you to attend a service of remembrance, to show your support to those who have served 鈥淚n the service of Peace.鈥�