Over the last 17 years, I have had the privilege of meeting and getting to know a wide variety of athletes.

Every Remembrance Day, there is one athlete to me that stands above the rest.

This individual played in the CFL in the late 1990s and the early 2000s.

The CFL being what it is, this player needed to find a job in the off-season to pay the bills. While he was still playing, he became a member of a Canadian forces reserve unit to help augment his salary in the CFL.

Once he retired from football, he had a decision to make.

Instead of a life in car sales or coaching, he decided to take up a full-time career in the military. Not just the military, but hardcore combat infantry.

Not much can be said this former player’s military career from that point forward; that’s because most of it is considered top secret by the Canadian Army.

He ended up becoming part of a unit that was so top secret that nobody will acknowledge if it even exists. The missions and locations of this unit technically doesn’t exist because of the secrecy of the unit and the sensitive nature of the missions they carry out.

I cannot go into any more details but suffice to say this former player has found himself in harm’s way more than once.

In my mind that is what makes the men and women who serve in the Canadian military so special; they are all volunteers.

My family sleeps well at night because of the men and women who have decided to make their life work protecting our country.

For that, I am eternally grateful.

I realize we all lead busy lives, but please take a moment at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday to remember all those who have served, and continue to serve our country.