Next week members of Canadian Forces in Alberta who have served for three years or more will for the first time be able to request a veteran's licence plate. The change in policy, sparked by interest from the Royal Canadian Legion, is a good one – it will recognize the contribution of serving military members to their country.
Previously, veterans had to have retired from service to be recognized. While retired veterans from the Canadian military are deserving of the utmost respect for their commitment to Canada and service at home and abroad, young and still-serving veterans deserve recognition and appreciation for their role.
To qualify for a veterans' licence plate, the applicant must have served for a minimum of three years – a significant reduction in the amount of time previously required. If you consider how many members of Canadian forces have served five, ten, or twenty years, we should expect to see a lot more of the veterans' licence plates on the road in the coming months and years.
Unlike some countries, Canada relies on volunteers to keep our skies, seas, and territory safe from enemy incursion. Military members volunteer for a job many of us would be unable to do, but a job necessary for Canadian sovereignty. Canadian Forces also make us proud by serving overseas, helping foreign nations overcome difficulties, and distributing much needed humanitarian aid. The veterans' licence plate is one way for the province to show thanks for those who bravely defend and uphold Canadian values abroad.
Not everyone could do what these men and women do every day. They put their lives on the line so the rest of us can live freely. It is maybe too easy to forget this vital contribution on all but one day a year, Remembrance Day, but perhaps Canadians should make a greater effort to show their appreciation the rest of the 364 days a year. Veterans' licence plates for serving members is a step in the right direction.
