Canadian/American relations/Canadian flag Presentation

Canadian/American relations/Canadian flag Presentation Order Description The speech needs to be between 3-7 minutes in length. This speech's topic is Canadian flag presentation is done annually and the usual speech is given by the flag being described and then the anthem is sang. I'm trying to go outside the norm, and give a brief history of American Canadian relationship underscoring our friendship and bonds together. What I have written so far is by no means concrete just the most basic outline. I would like for a professional to help capture the audiences attention smooth the transitions, make the wording fit together and be more coherent, and add on to the parts that are short or incomplete or remove parts that repeat or don't make sense. Most Worshipful Grand Master, distinguished east, honored guests, brethren and ladies: It is my honor and privilege to present a brief history of Canada and its flag. Our neighbor to the north started out much like the we did, a colony of the British empire. That is where the humble beginnings of our two countries parted ways, despite this we have since our inception been intertwined economically, politically, socially and of course militarily. When we were both young nations, we had numerous conflicts; The french Indian wars, the war of 1812, and various other border disputes about where ones territory began and another ended, and of course fear of American influence in the region, we aren't particularly known for our humility. Despite these various conflicts our nations have an extremely deep connection to one another. We share the largest demilitarized border in the world. Naturally, we are one of each others largest trading partners linking our economic prosperity together. The values of our countries are strongly united, believing in freedom, and prosperity for all, although they use a parliamentary system similar to Great Britain, they tend to fall along many of the same lines as the United States with liberal and conservative representatives. This occasionally puts us at odds with one another, much like siblings, rather than enemies. We have numerous similarities in our cultures too, including our religious and racial make-up, what movies are popular and we even speak the same language. Our strongest connection many would argue is militarily. Since treaty of Ghent in 1814, ending the war of 1812 there hasn't been a significant military conflict between the two nations. Though both nations have always been close, and fought as allies in all major conflicts, it wasn't until the conclusion of the second world war, that our countries formed a number of treaty organizations and military councils aimed at providing security and prosperity for the North American continent and Europe and keeping the influence of the Soviet Union in check. From time to time we are at odds politically about what to do on any particular security problem. They have and will always be the a loyal and trust worthy ally. The Canadian flag itself was officially adopted in 1965, it consists of a red back ground with a white stripe across the center, the white stripe is twice the size of the red sides, and in the center of this white stripe is an eleven pointed maple leaf. We as Freemasons are bound together by the bonds of union and friendship, much like our two countries and it is in that spirit that we honor our northern brothers, rise and join in the singing of the Canadian National Anthem “O’ Canada”.