So many of our people fail to really appreciate our history. We take things for granted and all too often our educational systems today don't fully provide the links to our past which would assure our people are better informed. I am always amazed by how little we seem to cherish our heritage in the world of today. We do a disservice to those who came before us and who bequeathed our nations to us in failing to insist that every child be given the gift of that knowledge to the nth degree.

It leads to better understanding of the links between our two nations which have endured for two centuries. And that understanding leads to better relations in the modern world of today. Its imperative those links be even stronger today than they have been in the past. We're in this struggle together on this beautiful continent we share. It's important that  we strengthen the bonds of unity more today than ever before. We need one another.

Let me give you an example. How many Canadians or Americans even know what the 'Peace Arch' is, or where it is? Allow me to give you a quick insight into our history.

The Peace Arch is a monument situated on the Canada – United States border between the communities of Blaine, Washington and Surrey, British Columbia. The Peace Arch, which stands 67.2 ft tall, was built and dedicated in September of 1921, and commemorates the signing of the Treaty of Ghent in 1814. The Treaty of Ghent was the peace treaty that ended the War of 1812 between the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Due to the era's slow speed of communication, it took weeks for news of the peace treaty to reach America, well after the Battle of New Orleans had ended.

At that time Canada was still a British colony. Canada became an independent country on July 1st, 1867 with the passage of the British North American Act, which recognized Canada as a Dominion, and no longer a colony of Great Britain. Until April 17th, 1982 however, Canada still didn't have full national sovereignty.  On that date Canada's Constitution was finally brought home and the fundamental laws of the land were now totally under the control of the Canadian Parliament. For this we owe our gratitude to the late Right Honourable Pierre Elliot Trudeau who made this, and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms which accompanied the patriation of the Constitution, primary goals of his tenure in office as our Prime Minister. 

The Peace Arch monument is built on the exact United States – Canada boundary. It has the flags of the U.S. and Canada mounted on its crown, and two inscriptions, one on each side of its frieze. The inscription on the U.S. side of the Peace Arch reads "Children of a common mother", and the words on the Canadian side read "Brethren dwelling together in unity". Within the arch, each side has an iron gate hinged on either side of the border with an inscription above reading "May these gates never be closed". Peace Arch Park consists of Peace Arch Provincial Park on the Canadian side and Peace Arch State Park on the American side of the border. Within the park is a major border crossing which has never closed, symbolizing a long history of peace between the two nations.

In Canada, the crossing is officially named Douglas, in honour of Sir James Douglas, the first governor of the Colony of British Columbia. Because of the Peace Arch monument, however, the border crossing between Surrey and Blaine is popularly known as the "Peace Arch Border Crossing", one of the busiest border crossings between Canada and the United States. It is the busiest such crossing west of Detroit.

Two bronze plaques are placed above the exterior foot walls of the Arch. One is of the Canadian steamship the Beaver, the other of the Mayflower. Wooden relics, allegedly cut from each ship, were sealed behind each plaque when the Arch was dedicated in 1921. 

In 1931, the expansion of the park to 40 acres was made possible with the help of school children from Washington State and British Columbia who donated their pennies, nickels and dimes to the project. Today, the international park's picturesque gardens are the home of over 200 perennials and 55,000 annuals that are planted each year. The park hosts ethnic and family gatherings, picnics, weddings, civic events and annual events of international significance. Over 500,000 visitors tour this international historic site annually. 

The International Peace Arch is one of the few landmarks in the world listed on the National Historic Registries of two different countries.

The history of the Peace Arch reflects more than our past, its existence gives meaning to our present. As the world moves into the twenty-first century the Peace Arch is a beacon of hope for our future. 

If we are to continue  to benefit from the ties that bind us the gates of the Peace Arch must never close. We must not allow fear or protectionism to change what has been the longest undefended border between two nations anywhere on this planet. Certainly safeguards are necessary for both our sakes given the common threats we now face, and which are real and a danger to both our peoples, but we must never lose sight of the fact that we are partners, not adversaries, on this great continent we share.

The American people often cite the creed .. 'United We Stand, Divided We Fall'. The first recorded use of the phrase in the United States was when Patrick Henry uttered the phrase in his last public speech, given in March 1799.  We all would be well advised to heed his words. Together, God willing, we can and will protect our precious freedoms and liberty and pass on to our children that which is their right and which many before us struggled and sacrificed to make ours. It is not only sensible and reasonable, it is our duty.