The Invisible Ribbon Campaign 2006

Overview
Background
Statement by the Honourable Lucie Pépin

Overview

The Invisible Ribbon Campaign promotes public awareness and provides recognition of the contributions made by military families.

Military families support those who serve, from the spouse who may suddenly be faced with months of single parenting, to the child who must learn to adjust to yet another new school and new friends. Rather than retreat in the face of adversity, military families greet each new challenge with strength and determination. They live, love, and toil alongside the deployed military member.

The Invisible Ribbon Campaign is designed to give a visible "thumbs up" to the families who wear the invisible uniform in support of the serving member. Please wear the Invisible Ribbon. Join the "invisible forces" and show your support for military families.

Background

The Invisible Ribbon Campaign is a public, grassroots demonstration of support for Canadian military personnel and their families. The clear plastic lapel ribbons, fastened with a Canadian flag pin, provide a ‘visual thumbs up’ for the military. The ribbons symbolize the ‘invisible uniform’ worn by families who are part of the military way of life.

The Invisible Ribbon Campaign is designed to provide a positive focus and to give a voice to military families whose morale has been affected by much negative publicity in the past few years. The Invisible Ribbons provide a way for Canadians to show they appreciate the efforts of the thousands of men and women – and their families – who continue to serve the country and the world with pride and professionalism.

Created by two military spouses, Barbara Little and Maureen Macdonald, the Invisible Ribbon Campaign was launched in Winnipeg with an official Campaign Week in November 1996. Since the launch, The Invisible Ribbon Campaign has continued to gain momentum across Canada and around the world. Dianne Collier assumed the responsibilities of National Coordinator in the Fall of 1997.

Anyone who is a ‘Friend of the Forces’ is encouraged to make and wear a ribbon, not just military personnel and their families. There is no charge for the ribbons, they are given away freely. However, The Invisible Ribbon Campaign can only continue through generous donations of Canadian Flag Pins and financial support for printing and distribution costs.

Ribbons have been sent all over Canada – from Veterans Affairs Office in Vancouver to a Naval Reunion in Newfoundland. They have been given to wedding guests of a military man, children have taken them to school to share with their classmates in Australia. Mothers have organized groups to make ribbons and our Military Family Resource Centres have organized volunteers to assemble these much sought after ribbons.

Source: Diane Collier’s website http://www.renc.igs.net/~tcollier/ribbon.html

Important Role of Military Families in Military Life
Transcript of Senator Pépin's Statement
During the Debates of the Senate
Wednesday, November 1, 2006

[Translation]

Honourable senators, as we mentioned yesterday. a contingent of 76 soldiers from Valcartier left Quebec City last Monday, on their way to Afghanistan. These soldiers will join some 3,000 soldiers, sailors and Air Force members who are already serving on missions somewhere around the world.

Our armed forces are called upon more and more to endure very difficult conditions. This situation causes increased stress on Canadian Forces members, as well as on their families, who must now go through even longer periods of separation.

More than ever before, given the dangerous context of the missions, support for the families is extremely important, especially because, without the moral support of their families, our soldiers could not properly carry out their tours of duty. I am sure that all senators are proud of our Canadian Forces members and wish only to demonstrate their pride. Personally, I believe that one of the best ways to back our soldiers is by supporting the partners they have left behind.

As I have previously stated in this chamber, we recognize that all our soldiers' spouses are heroes, just as our soldiers are heroes. We do not say much about these women when we talk about the Canadian Forces, but they are there always at their spouse's side.

These women are just as dedicated to the Canadian Forces. Their lives, too, are shaped by the military, with its frequent moves and a lifestyle a world apart from that of civilians. These women and their children live in unique circumstances and must often face numerous financial, professional, personal and emotional challenges.

These past years, I have noticed the remarkable courage of military spouses, especially when their partners are on missions overseas. During this period, their days are filled with the anguish of knowing their spouses are facing danger. Without complaint theyr strive forward beyond the debates, rumours and comments linked to the deployment of their spouses overseas.

Honourable senators, I invite you to show your support for the spouses and children of our soldiers every time you have opportunity. There are many ways to help families feel they are not alone. One of the best ways is to tell them how much we appreciate their sacrifice and to let them know we recognize that they do not have an easy life.

Honourable senators, we ask a lot of our troops. In turn, they ask that during these difficult times, Canadians stant not only behind them, but beside their families.

Suppport our troops by supporting military families.