Senator Seidman, we all absolutely respect and cherish you. I will miss you beyond words.

Honourable senators, I rise today to commemorate a profoundly significant milestone in our shared history: the seventy-fifth anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War, which began on June 25, 1950, when the communist North Korean forces launched a full-scale invasion of South Korea. This act of aggression ignited a war that continues to shape the geopolitical landscape of the Korean Peninsula and the world to this day.

The armistice was signed three years later on July 27, 1953, bringing an end to the hostilities, splitting the country along the 38th parallel and separating countless families on either side of the divide, including my own, as the war has yet to end.

The Korean War stands as one of Canada’s most significant overseas military engagements of the 20th century. Nearly 27,000 brave Canadians answered the United Nations’ call to defend peace and international order, serving with distinction in the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force. Following the armistice signed on July 27, 1953, more than 7,000 additional Canadians served in peacekeeping duties, continuing to support stability in the region.

This seventy-fifth anniversary compels us to reflect above all on the immense courage, sacrifice and resilience of our Canadian veterans. In the face of extreme conditions and a determined adversary, they stood firm and resolute. Their sacrifices were not made for recognition nor reward, but out of duty, honour and a profound commitment to peace and freedom. Their bravery is etched into the soul of our nation, and their example continues to inspire generations. We owe them more than words. We owe them remembrance, respect and the promise that their legacy will never be forgotten. Canada and the people of Korean descent around the world are forever in their debt.

We honour our Korean War veterans not only for what they did on the battlefield but for what their service helped to build: a free and democratic South Korea and a proud Canadian tradition of peacekeeping and global leadership.

Honourable senators, let us mark this historic anniversary with reverence, pride and — above all — gratitude. Let us ensure that future generations will remember the sacrifices made on distant shores in defence of freedom. Let us ensure that their courage will never be forgotten, their stories will always be told and their sacrifice will be honoured — today and always.