The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Siobhan Coady, Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance:

 Speaker, I rise today to share a story of loss and remembrance – a shared history between our province and the Republic of Türkiye.

One year ago, the Premier stood alongside Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, Federal Government representatives and Republic of Türkiye officials in Gallipoli for the official unveiling of the Gallipoli Newfoundland Memorial.

This historic and meaningful unveiling completed the Trail of the Caribou – a series of six permanent monuments across France, Belgium and Türkiye, to mark the critical battles fought by the Royal Newfoundland Regiment during the First World War.

The tremendous loss of life in Gallipoli created a bond between our two nations. This bond has survived the passing of time and the vast distance between us. On September 28, we unveiled a monument to honour Tukish soldiers on the shores of Quidi Vidi Lake.

The task of establishing reciprocal memorials in Newfoundland and Türkiye took years of planning, and it would not have been possible without the commitment of many people and organizations, including the MHA for Lake Melville and the Royal Newfoundland Regimental Advisory Council.

As we approach Remembrance Day, this is a poignant example of how the memories of our veterans live on. Young people on both sides of the ocean made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. But lives were lost, hearts were broken and families and friends grieved for those who never came home.

I ask all members of this Honourable House to join me in a moment of silence to remember and honour our veterans.

Lest We Forget.