OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 10/03/12 -- The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, issued the following statement on the occasion of Army Reserve Recognition Day:

"Today is a special day for a committed and valuable group of Canadians. Today is Canada's first Army Reserve Recognition Day.

Army Reserve Recognition Day provides us with an opportunity to acknowledge the important role of Army Reserve members play for Canada, the Canadian Forces and the Canadian Army. Today, many men and women who serve as our part-time citizen soldiers will be acknowledged in their civilian workplaces.

Canada's Army has almost 25,000 Reservists, including the Canadian Rangers. In a little over a decade, more than 4,000 Primary Reservists have been deployed overseas, and 3,000 Reservists have deployed inside Canada for domestic concerns over the last five years. We are committed to honouring and recognizing the valued contribution of these soldiers.

Reservists fulfill a crucial role in our military, and their contribution to Canada and the world has been outstanding. Our Reservist are always there to provide assistance during any domestic emergency as they have done during floods in Manitoba and Quebec and wildfires in Northern Ontario, and to serve in international operations, such as the mission in Afghanistan and the humanitarian relief mission following the earthquake in Haiti.

In addition to devoting many weekends, evenings and often vacation time to their military service, Reservists often take months and years away from their civilian lives to serve as full-time soldiers.

Today, and every day, we admire and salute the sacrifices our Army Reservists and their families make so that they can serve all Canadians.

So, if you see a Canadian Army Reservist in your work place today, please take the time to shake their hand and say, "Thank you"."