Bless Private Colin William Wilmot- 1984 - July 5, 2008

Our Fallen Soldier

Private Colin William Wilmot

1984 - 2008

July 7, 2008 at 2:30 AM EDT At approximately 12:50 a.m., Kandahar time, on July 5, a Canadian soldier suffered critical injuries and later died when an explosive device detonated near a dismounted security patrol in Panjwayi District.The fallen soldier is Private Colin William Wilmot, a medic serving with the Health Services Support Unit in Afghanistan attached to 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group. His home unit was 1 Field Ambulance, based in Edmonton, Alberta.

First-aid was administered to Private Wilmot immediately following the explosion. He was evacuated by helicopter to the Multi-National Medical Facility at Kandahar Airfield. Sadly, Private Wilmot was pronounced dead upon arrival.The thoughts and prayers of every member of the Canadian Task Force are with Private Wilmot's family and friends during this very difficult time.
Our Canadian medic killed by a bomb at an undisclosed location on Sunday had eagerly volunteered for a spot in the Afghan mission, his commander says.
Private Colin William Wilmot was serving with a field ambulance unit in Edmonton and was not originally scheduled to deploy to the battlefield, but he lobbied for the job and eventually got attached to the Canadian battle group.
“He quickly marched in to see his Regimental Sergeant Major to indicate he was eager to serve in Afghanistan,” said Brigadier-General Denis Thompson, the top Canadian commander in Kandahar. “He was selected to fill a vacancy soon after, because he was motivated, he was skilled, and because he was eager to make a difference in the lives of ordinary Afghan people.”
Gen. Thompson said he has discontinued the practice of giving the location of soldiers' deaths, saying only that Private Wilmot was killed somewhere in Panjwai district, a vast expanse of farmland and desert southwest of Kandahar city.

Private Colin William Wilmot, a medic, died during a foot patrol in Panjwai district on Sunday.
The commander also gave few details about what the medic was doing at the time of his death.
“It was a foot patrol at night,” Gen. Thompson said. “We're trying to dominate the area and to do that we have to do foot patrols.”
The blast happened around 1 a.m. local time on Sunday and did not immediately kill the medic. He suffered critical injuries and his comrades gave him emergency first-aid, lifting him onto a stretcher and moving him in an armoured vehicle to the nearest Canadian outpost.
A helicopter later took him a military hospital at Kandahar Airfield but he was pronounced dead on arrival.
“Throughout the evacuation process, our soldiers and medical personnel fought hard, just as Private Wilmot often did, to save the life of their patient. Sadly, his injuries were too extensive to save him,” Gen. Thompson said.
Private Wilmot leaves behind a fiancée, Laura. He had recently returned to Afghanistan after a short vacation.
“I am told he had a permanent smile on his face, and would brag to anyone within earshot that he was now engaged,” Gen. Thompson said.
“He personally gave medical assistance to many soldiers,” the commander said. “He was also quick to help Afghan soldiers, members of the police, and local civilians who required emergency treatment.
“Colin took great pride in his role and abilities when providing needed medical support.”
He continued: “The Canadian Task Force routinely counts on our medics during life-and-death situations, and Private Wilmot was always ready to answer the call.”

Statement from the Family: It was with great sadness that our family received the devastating news of the loss of Private Colin William Wilmot. Colin took extreme pride in his service to his country and his fellow soldiers as a medic. He was a mature outgoing young man who was full of life and always had a positive outlook. It was no surprise to any of us that he chose a profession that allowed him to help others. Colin also leaves behind his fiancée Laura who brought great joy to his life and will miss him with all her heart and soul. We are extremely proud of Colin and what he accomplished in his lifetime. Our family is heartbroken by his loss. He will never be forgotten and his spirit will live forever within the hearts of all who knew him.We wish to thank all Canadians for their outpouring of support during this difficult time and would like to express our gratitude to the Canadian Forces the tremendous support they have provided to our entire family.

Obituary of Pte Colin William Wilmot 1984 - 2008

The passing of Pte Colin William Wilmot of CFB Edmonton, AB, occurred on
Saturday, July 5, 2008 at Kandahar Province, Afghanistan.

Born on May 12, 1984 in Fredericton, NB, he was the son of Warrant Officer

Eric P. Craig of Petawawa, ON and the late Shirley Lorraine (Mann) Craig.

Pte Colin Wilmot was a medic with 1 Field Ambulance serving in Afghanistan.

He was a very athletic young man, who was proud to serve his country.

In addition to his step-father, Colin is survived by his birth father, Colin Bernard Wilmot of Fredericton, NB; sister, Kathleen Jones Kingston of Fredericton, NB

and fiancée, Laura English of Moncton, NB.

Besides his mother, he was predeceased by his brother-in-law, David Trevis Kingston.

Visitation will take place at York Funeral Home, 302 Brookside Dr. Fredericton North on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 from 2-4, 7-9. Royal Canadian Legion Branch #4, Fredericton will conduct a Tribute Service Tuesday evening at 6:45 pm at the funeral home. A Funeral Service will take place at St. Luke’s Protestant Chapel CFB Gagetown on Wednesday, July 16th at 10AM with Padre Darryl Levy and Padre Ian Easter officiating.

Reception to follow at the Carleton Barracks Officers Mess, CFB Gagetown.

Interment will take place at the Forest Hill Cemetery, Fredericton.

For those who wish, in lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Autism Society.

Personal condolences may be offered through http://www.yorkfh.com/.

He's Coming Home - Ramp Ceremony - Kandahar, Afghanistan

While the lone piper plays behind, Pte. Colin William Wilmot's comrades load his flag-draped coffin into an aircraft after a solemn ramp ceremony at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan on Monday, July 7th, 2008.

Comrades Remember- The medic was remembered by comrades as the top student in his basic medical course and a young man with a perpetually sunny disposition. They said Wilmot, who had been with the military for three years, was not originally scheduled to join the current rotation in Afghanistan, but demanded to be sent.
"He quickly marched in to see his regiment sergeant major to indicate he was eager to serve," said Brig.-Gen. Denis Thompson, Canada's top soldier in Afghanistan.
"Colin wanted it known that should a spot become available on the mission, he wanted in.
His peers say the Canadian military medic who died Sunday, Pte. Colin William Wilmot, had a quick smile, sharp intellect, and generous heart. "He was selected to fill a vacancy soon after, because he was motivated, he was skilled, and because he was eager to make a difference in the lives of ordinary Afghans."
'We are a family,' commanding officer says
Back at Edmonton Garrison, where Wilmot was based before deploying for Afghanistan, his commanding officer, Lt. Col. Christopher Linford, said the incident underlined the risks faced by Canada's combat medics in Afghanistan.
"We are a family and this is like losing a family member," he said.
"I don't think there's any doubt that all medics that go over to do this job are extremely aware of the dangers they face," said Linford, commander of 1Field Ambulance in Edmonton. "Frankly, I'm extremely impressed by their level of courage and commitment to do that," said Linford, commander of 1Field Ambulance in Edmonton."
Along the Highway of Heroes and Repatriation Announcement:
Our fallen soldier, Private Colin William Wilmot, 24, of 1 Field Ambulance, based out of Edmonton, Alberta is scheduled to return home to Canada Wednesday.
Where: 8 Wing Trenton, Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Ontario.
When: Wednesday, July 9, 2008 at 2:00 p.m.

Present to pay their respects at the repatriation ceremony will be the Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and other dignitaries.
After the repatriation ceremonies, the cortege will travel from Trenton to Toronto along the 401 W - The Highway of Heroes. Join others along the overpasses and highway and salute our fallen soldier - honour him and his family. Wear red and wave a flag proudly. (wish I was able to be by your side today J. - my heart is there.)

On the Overpass - July 9th, 2008

Photo taken at the Victoria Park Overpass in Toronto

They stood on the bridge over the 401 at Victoria Park Road in Toronto as the strong winds blew, awaiting the cortège enroute from Trenton. Someone was in touch with the progress of the cortège and received updates as to what point the family had just passed. With heavy hearts 20 people stood braving the traffic and winds on the bridge. One couple brought a flag and fastened it to the handrail so that it over hung the edge of the bridge, occassionally blowing upwards with each gust while other people had flags waving in the stiff breeze. As the cars and trucks passed underneath, the drivers honked and they waved in return.

In a moment, the 8 or so vehicles to passed by after the motorcycle riders cleared the traffic in the inside lane. At that point there are 7 lanes of traffic past that spot - 3 collector lanes and 4 core lanes. The people in the cortège vehicles "waved in acknowledgement to us which made us feel as though we had connected with them. " said one military mother.

Included on the overpass was: a mother whose son is currently serving in Afghanistan. The reason for her attendance was in respect for the family of a soldier who served in the same unit as her son.
There were two young men who were from Afghanistan, a WWII vet, a current CER who is posted to Edmonton Aug 1 and his family, a man and his 2 children who will be going to Petawawa in a couple of weeks to see a relative off to Afghanistan, a woman with a very strong French accent who doesn't agree with the war but just had to pay her respect to someone who gave his life in service of our country, a Dad whose son goes on the next rotation, a Dad whose son is a reservist has done one rotation and has just finished his first year in law. The remainder were people who wanted to be there to honour a soldier whose life has ended so soon.

Homecoming affects driver:

I was getting on the 401 in Whitby today and as I pulled onto the onramp, five OPP cruisers were sitting on the embankment. In my rear view mirror I saw a caravan of OPP Cruisers, Durham Region Police Cruisers, a couple of Chevy Yukons and a Hearse I couldn't make it off the on ramp and had to come to a rolling stop to let them pass, as all the officers on the side of the road got out of their vehicles and off their motorcycles to salute the fallen soldier that was passing us.

As I neared the first bridge, tears came to my eyes! It was covered in Canadian Flags with many firetrucks, ambulances, cruisers all saluting the caravan. I have never seen this before. I didn't realize how it was affecting me!! We came to another bridge and the same again, including civilians like you and I...it continued all the way to Warden Avenue. We even saw Veterans on the bridge standing at salute awaiting the fallen soldier's passby.How incredible a feeling. As I write this I am overcome with emotions again. I am told that this is a regular occurance in the east end of the GTA, and filled with pride for the people who make it to salute the fallen soldier. It does sadden me that they have to do it, however.

Upon googling when I returned home, I found out that it was Pte. Colin William Wilmot who was killed in Afghanistan on Sunday. I live in the west end of the city, and have never witnessed this before. I am glad my children and I did tonite. We have never been affected by the war there, but today it certainly touched out hearts. My van now has a Canadian Flag on it, but unlike the German one last week, this one is truly displayed with pride for the country I have chosen to make home and not to support a sports team. - 3W

The Funeral- Saying Goodbye - July 16, 2008
Privat Colin Wilmot's loved ones stood beside the chapel at CFB Gagetown, anguish etched on their faces, their hearts as empty as the cloudless blue sky. They clasped hands and choked back tears as a piper interrupted the uneasy silence of a lazy summer morning, and the long goodbye began.

Heels clicking against the pavement, eight sombre soldiers slowly carried the casket bearing the 24-year-old private into a church where mourners were waiting. The mission grinds on, but for friends and family, time stood still on Wednesday.His funeral was the first at the New Brunswick base in more than a year, and his casket lay at the front of the chapel near a painting dedicated recently to other soldiers who have died during the Afghan war.
More than 300 people crowded inside the chapel at CFB Gagetown in New Brunswick on Wednesday to pay their final respects to a Canadian medic who was killed in Afghanistan.
In front of the small St. Luke Chapel, soldiers in dark-green dress uniforms stood at attention as the flag-draped coffin of Pte. Colin Wilmot was carried inside. The pallbearers and colour guard were members of Wilmot's 1st Field Ambulance - his own unit from Edmonton and and soldiers from Petawawa.
The Edmonton-based soldier was attached to the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, but Wilmot was raised in Fredericton and graduated from Fredericton High School in 2002 and remembered as a cheerful person from the convenience store
Maj. John Crook, the acting commander of 1st Field Ambulance, told the congregation Wilmot was a dedicated soldier.
"Colin served his unit with honour and dignity. He was a shining example of what Canada has to offer," Crook said.
Wilmot's family has a long history of military service.
Among the mourners was Wilmot's stepfather, Warrant Officer Eric Craig, who was recently transferred from CFB Gagetown to CFB Petawawa in eastern Ontario, and Oromocto Mayor Fay Tidd, and Frank Dunn, the mayor of New Maryland.
Kathy Jones Kingston, Wilmot's sister, gave the eulogy at the funeral. Wilmot was smart and mischievous as a child, she said, recalling how her brother would often steal the shoes of family and company as a child in an effort to keep them from leaving.
Wilmot also enjoyed playing with GI Joe figures as a boy, Jones Kingston said. "Colin cared about everyone, usually more than himself,'' his sister, Kathy Kingston, said in eulogizing him. "What we'll miss most is his smile and his laugh."We're going to miss you, Colin. Thanks for all the memories."
Other family members have said Wilmot was inspired to become a medic by the television show MASH, but he did his medical work in the field during combat operations, not in a hospital behind the front lines.
Wilmot, who had been with the military for three years, was not originally scheduled to join the current rotation in Afghanistan but demanded to be sent.
"Colin cared about everyone, usually more than himself," Jones Kingston said. "What we'll miss most about Colin is his smile and his laugh. We're going to miss you, Colin. Thanks for all the memories."
Family, friends and colleagues remember Wilmot as a top student in his basic medical course and a young man with a perpetual smile and positive attitude.

Pallbears from the 1st Field Ambulance of the 2nd Battalion of Princess Patricia's Candian Light Infantry Battle Group, carry Private Colin Wilmot's coffin during his funeral at St. Luke's Chapel at CFB Gagetown

A silver-and-black hearse carried Wilmot's body in a deliberate procession that was greeted by an honour guard. Freshly-scrubbed members of his light infantry unit, none looking any older than him, served as the pallbearers, carefully carrying his casket, draped in a flag, up, then down the chapel's stairs. A step behind them, holding Wilmot's head dress, walked the grim-faced Cpl. Alicia Garbe, a member of the Edmonton-based Princess Patricias who escorted his remains back from Afghanistan.
Mourners spilled quietly from the church following the ceremony, some with their eyes red from crying, many with yellow ribbons pinned to their lapels. His loved ones waited, silent and heartbroken, for his casket to be lifted back into a limousine and taken to a cemetery in Fredericton.Soldiers saluted as the hearse left Gagetown, and mourners headed for their cars, clutching programs with his picture, smiling and handsome, on the front. On the back was a poem that was read during the service."A Canadian soldier goes home today, his duty all but done,'' it reads at the start. "His friends gather to see him off, and salute him one by one."
A private burial at Fredericton's Forest Hill Cemetery took place later in the day.
A Canadian Soldier Goes Home Today
A Canadian soldier goes home today
His duty all but done
His friends gather round to see him off
And salute him one by one

To keep the peace he's done his best
And kept the foe at bay
And gave the children in a foreign land
A chance to run and play

They may never know this soldier's name
Nor the sacrifice he made
To leave his own fond loved ones
At home they wish he stayed

But the work of keeping a fragile peace
Is a long and arduous one
Most times accomplished with an open hand
But sometimes with a gun

He is not the first to go this way
But we pray he is the last
With a few shed tears we say goodbye
And then from sight he's passed

Yes, a Canadian soldier goes home today
Draped in our National Flag
His duty for his country is done
Rest well my fallen comrade
BY: Roland MacKinnon Stationed in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Our prayers are with your family and friends both here and in Afghanistan as you travel your new journey. Bless you Private Wilmot. Thank you for serving our country. You will always be remembered.

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect others.

Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they preform for those in need.

Bless Corporal Brendan Anthony Downey July 4, 2008

Bless Our Fallen Soldier - July 4th, 2008

Repatriation into Canada
Our fallen soldier, Corporal Brendan Anthony Downey, 37, a Military Policeman of 17 Wing Detachment Dundurn, is scheduled to return home to Canada today.

Where: 8 Wing Trenton, Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Ontario.

When: Monday, July 7, 2008
at 2:00 p.m.

Present to pay their respects will be the Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and other dignitaries.
Our Fallen Soldier
At approximately 4:15 a.m. (EST) July 4, a Canadian Forces member was found dead in an accommodation room in the Theatre Support Element compound in the Gulf region.Deceased is Corporal Brendan Anthony Downey, a Military Policeman from the Military Police Detachment in Dundurn, Saskatchewan.An investigation is ongoing to establish the circumstances of this incident. No further details are available at this time, although enemy action has been ruled out.Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Corporal Downey during this difficult time. Our focus over the next number of days will be to provide the best possible support to the family of our airman and to his colleagues. Cpl Downey's immediate family has no comment at this time and will provide a statement in due course. I can't imagine the grief they are going through at this time. Let's welcome our fallen soldier home along the Highway of Heroes (Hwy 401 from Trenton to Toronto) along the overpasses.

Our Soldier is Home

Onlookers watch as the hearse carrying Cpl. Brendan Anthony Downey drives through CFB Trenton Monday PHOTO Credit: LUKE HENDRY

A dedicated crowd watched the repatriation of Cpl. Brendan Anthony Downey here Monday, July 7th.
Downey was based at Saskatchewan's 17 Wing Detachment Dundurn.
The Canadian Forces CC- 177 Globemaster III air transport carrying his body touched down in Trenton around 3:20 p. m. Monday. Pallbearers carried Downey's flag-covered casket slowly down the plane's long ramp and into a hearse. Family members then approached the vehicle in small groups to pay their respects.
The view from the fence showed little of the ceremony, since several wire fences and a low concrete barricade stretched across the hundreds of metres of asphalt between the fence and plane.
But a crowd of about 50 people, most of them civilians, watched intently nonetheless.
"This is the way these young men have ended their careers -- by serving us well, " said Cathy Quinn, a retired teacher from Ottawa. Her family is vacationing in Bloomfield in nearby Prince Edward County. She brought two 9 year old granddaughters - to watch the repatriation from the base fence along Highway 2. Hayley said the fallen have done "as much as they could" in the line of duty.
With the humidity making the temperature feel well above 30 C, many of the public stood drinking cold bottled water distributed free by the Quinte West Fire Department.
Lindy Muise lives just east of CFB Trenton and said much of the military air traffic, including repatriation flights, passes over his home. Monday was the first time he had attended a repatriation.
He said he felt he should attend because he now has a family connection to the Canadian Forces.
"I've got two grandchildren just going in," he said, describing their recent enlistments.
Muise said his family now watches military news closely.
"Every move they make we pay attention because we've got family in there," he said, calling the repatriation "pretty sad."
"It could be mine," said Muise, adding the fact that while don't brings comfort, the fallen are still "somebody's kids."
Quinte West OPP kept careful watch over traffic, blocking lanes to allow spectators to park and move safely across the highway.
Muise, though, said the public should be allowed onto the base during the services.
"The base is big enough to hold everybody and (have) lots of room left over," he said. "This is dangerous out here."
Monday's crowd was relatively small compared with that at other ceremonies, which have drawn as many as several hundred people.
However, the military -- which typically announces repatriations at least one day in advance -- did not make public the ceremony's date and time until Monday morning, then postponed the start time by just over one hour. Strange.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bless you Cpl. Downey. You will always be remembered. Thank you for serving for us - our country, our people and those overseas. Our thoughts and prayers are sent to the family and friends both here and overseas.

He travels his journey home.

Let Our Yellow Ribbons Flutter... for Our Soldiers

I was saddened when I read this story about mothers who have been busy creating and hanging yellow ribbons in honour of our soldiers only to find them taken or cut down. I know I personally have been a victim of such a heinous act. My yellow ribbon (that hung in honour of my son and his Battle Group) was cut right off of the big tree at the front of my home. However, it was nice that a neighbour found my big ribbon - not to return it.. oh no.. but to cut it into pieces and tied it onto a line over his newly seeded lawn to scare birds away. Imagine that! Thank you nice supportive neighbour.
It seems like just yesterday that I had started a yellow ribbon hanging campaign of various cities (to which many Mayors gladly honoured our troops by doing so - thank you :) Let's do it again.

I posted the story of the moms below. Read on.
Symbolic Yellow Ribbons Cut Down
CambridgeTimes.ca and Hamilton Mountain News
By Melissa Hancock
Jun 19, 2008
Yellow ribbons hung in the downtown area of Galt to signify the safe return home of Canadian soldiers were cut down in what some are assuming was a hasty act of objection to the war in Afghanistan.
"My first reaction was anger," said Cambridge resident Bob Stebbings, a retired military warrant officer. "My second reaction was sadness."
Mothers from a military family support group, which includes members from Cambridge and surrounding cities and towns, tied about 40 of the symbolic yellow ribbons around trees and light posts late last month in preparation for the later summer deployment of about 2,500 soldiers. Days later, one of the mothers found several ribbons in a garbage can on a sidewalk near Ainslie and Main streets.
"I was just flabbergasted," said Sharon Coulson, whose son will be among those deployed in a few months. "Somebody went around and cut them down."
As she ran errands near the Ainslie and Main streets area a couple of weeks ago, Coulson spotted several of the snipped yellow ribbons sitting in a shopping cart that was being pushed by a homeless man.
Coulson approached the man and asked where he'd acquired the yellow ribbons. He found them in the garbage, she said, and was hoping to sell them.
"I was asking myself all kinds of questions," she told the Times.
Coulson wondered: did a city worker take down the ribbons without knowing they were allowed to be up? Did the man with the shopping cart cut them down himself? Or did someone who doesn't agree with the war in Afghanistan cut them down?
"This has got nothing to do with the war," she noted about the ribbons. "It's not just for one, two or three - it's for every soldier out there."
She said she believed the man with the cart and walked over to the area where he said he'd found the ribbons. That's where she found more cut in half and sitting on top of the trash.
"That's a slap in the face to my son as a soldier," charged Coulson. "I was so upset."
The man gave back the ribbons to Coulson and she later continued to search for more that were discarded. After glancing up and down the streets where the ribbons were hung, she could tell how many were left just by looking. About a dozen remained out of the 40 that went up. But Coulson didn't look for long.
"I was just so upset; I couldn't look in the garbage anymore."
Stebbings said he thinks the public needs to be more aware of all that goes on overseas. Stories need to be heard of Canadian soldiers who have helped women in Afghanistan start their own businesses, he said.
"I'm a little disappointed that our government isn't explaining more of what's going on there."
However, the yellow ribbon signifies the safe return of Canada's men and women and it does not signify support of the war or have any political bearing, Stebbings added.
His wife, Andrea Stebbings - who is the executive director of the Downtown Cambridge Business Improvement Association - shares a similar reaction to what happened.
"I was stunned," said Andrea. "We all know what that ribbon represents."
The executive director, who was downtown at the armoury on Valour Place last month when the military support group mothers hung their ribbons, said it was most likely the act of someone who disagrees with the war.
"There's no politics in this yellow ribbon," she said. "It's a little yellow ribbon that carries so much meaning."
More ribbons have been hung up and there are still more to come, said Andrea. And if more are cut down, others will go right back up.
"Even if we have to climb higher up the pole."

Come on! Let's ALL hang a yellow ribbon in honour of our soldiers!

Let's do it for our troops! Hang a flag - hang a yellow ribbon!

.. and ... Don't forget your yellow ribbon magnet for your car!

2nd Annual Charity Golf Tournament

Saturday, July 26, 2008, Windsor Ont the CAW (Local 2458) and The Canada South Blues Society partner in a Golf Tournament supporting woundedwarriors.ca.

2nd. Annual Charity Golf Tournament.
In support of Injured Canadian Soldiers and WoundedWarriors.ca

Sapper Mike McTeague Wounded Warriors Fund

Saturday July 26, 2008

at the Fox Glen Golf Club

7525 Howard Avenue,

McGregor, ON

Great Contest & Prices

Blues Bands of the course

Fox Glen Golf Club$ 125.00 per golfer

To enter, contact: Bruce Dickie or Tuilo DiPoni at 519-254-8630

or Entry forms available at the Windsor Pub, 3032 Dougall Avenue.

Map to Golf Course:

View Larger Map

Warriors' Day Parade

The 87th Warriors' Day Parade

on Saturday, August 16th, 2008

at 10:30 a.m.

'SALUTING OUR VETERANS, SUPPORTING OUR TROOPS'

&

"90th Anniversary of the End of World War I"

NOTE: This year the parade will terminate inside the BMO Field stadium at the CNE. All members of the public are welcome to enjoy the comfort of this world-class facility to join together in expressing appreciation for our Veterans and currently serving members of Canada's military service. Please help us fill the stadium!

PARADE ROUTE:-Through the Princes' Gates, along Princes' Blvd, in front of The Direct Enegy Centre right through to the BMO Field.-The Parade will enter through the south-east entrance of the BMO Field and -Exit the BMO Field through the north-west gate

For further information, please contact:

MWO Charles G. Harding CD (Ret'd)President, The Warriors' Day Parade Council

496 Mortimer AvenueToronto, Ontario, Canada M4J 2G7

Telephone: 416-465-7291 Email: mailto:cgharding@sympatico,ca

2008 APPLICATION FOR FAMILY TICKETS
Free Family tickets to the Canadian National Exhibition grounds will be issued to, and are only for the use of Canadian or Allied Veterans, or members and ex-members of the Canadian Forces, Permanent Force or other Canadian Components and their IMMEDIATE FAMILIES.

Canex Discounts for Soldiers

Woaaaa!! Have I been sleeping?? How did I miss this??? This is a phenominal website - and truly beneficial to all soldiers! O.k. let me give you a hint: It has one word that I love: "DISCOUNTS!! " Please pass this on!

The CANEX Discount Program (CDP) gives access, at a discounted rates, to a wide range of commercial goods and services that benefit the military community. This program provides an online portal where members of the military community can obtain information about meaningful national and local discounts offered to them by Corporate Canada.

The authorized patron list is as follows:
(CANEX Discount Program (CDP) - Authorized Patrons List)

• Serving members of the CF and their spouses


• Members of the CF Reserve Force


• Retired CF members and DND civilian employees in receipt of a DND pension


• Permanent full time or part time NPF and DND employees and their spouses


• CANEX Concessionaires (principals only)


• Qualifying foreign military personnel


• Retired NPF employees in receipt of an NPF pension


• Full time employees of ASD contractors


• Widows of CF personnel receiving a benefit under the CFSA, DSPCA, the Pension Act or he War Veterans Allowance Act


• Members of the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires when residing or employed on a Base/Wing


• Members of the RCMP

If you are a CANEX Authorized Patron, listed above, please click onto: CANEX DISCOUNTS or http://www.canexdiscounts.ca/ NOW!

Thank you CANEX!

General Rick Hillier Retires

It's 11:00 a.m. in Ottawa. It has just happened.. General Rick Hillier has retired.

Today is a sad day for many as General Rick Hillier retires from his position as Chief of the Defence Staff. Hillier was looked up to and loved by many - soldiers and families.
He always presented himself with a warm touch and always had kind words for the families back home supporting the troops overseas. I had had a dream - to one day meet this man.

I remember a couple of quotes by General Hillier:

When announcing the Military Family Fund:
"When our families call out for help, we must be able to answer that call immediately and substantially. Our families have been here for us through our enrolment, our training, our deployments, and our homecomings. The military life places significant demands on our loved ones. They did not volunteer for service – but serve they do, and with great distinction. It is our turn to be there for our families.”

Or the time Hillier addressed the families at the Roto 2 Medals Parade when he addressed the families:
“…We know that you are not volunteers and sometimes the load that you carry is much heavier indeed than what we bear. We cannot do our jobs without your support, without your courage, and without your inspiration and for that you have our absolutely deepest gratitude, our appreciation, and thank you very much for your support to all of the families who are here today. “

~ All the best on your retirement General Hillier.

Godspeed on your new journey.

From the many Military Moms, Dads, Wives, Husbands, children and families of your soldiers.

***Readers: WANTED - If you have a picture or a paticular memory of Gen. Hillier, send it onto me and I'll post it. militarymomathome@hotmail.com

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Welcome General Walter Natynczuk

(o.k... it will take me some time to learn to spell his last name)

Now Retired Gen. Rick Hillier stands beside Gen. Walter Natynczyk at the changing of command ceremony in Ottawa on Wednesday, July 2, 2008.

Hillier handed over the reigns today to Lt.-Gen. Walter Natynczyk who succeeded him as Canada's chief of defence staff.
Early Wednesday, before the change-of-command ceremony in Ottawa, Hillier visited Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa, a stop he said was the final leg in a tour of respect he has taken over the past month, visiting key burial sites of Canada's fallen soldiers.
"I wanted to complete that journey, if you will, by going by the national military cemetery this morning and just visiting and paying my respects to those young men and one young woman who are buried there and who have served their country and paid the ultimate price for it," he said. "It was something I wanted to do on my last day as chief of defence staff."
Hillier announced in April that he would be moving on after more than three years at the head of Canada's military.
The outspoken and charismatic general, who was known as "a soldier's soldier" by many of his troops, will become the chancellor of Memorial University in St. John's, N.L. as of July 3.
Losing 'soldier' status
He said the most difficult part of leaving the military will be losing his status as a soldier.
"I've been a soldier all my life, really," Hillier said.
"I joined the army as a boy, my wife and I were married quite young, we grew up in the army, and so leaving as a soldier, my goodness, this is an earth-shaking moment for us."
During his time in the post, Hillier oversaw Canada's role in Afghanistan and secured new money and new equipment for the military.
Retired Gen. Lewis MacKenzie said it was at a similar ceremony more than three years ago that Hillier set the bold tone for his term.
"When he took over he figuratively turned to the audience and said we need help, we need more money, we need more people. Everyone was aghast and thought that would be his last outburst," MacKenzie told Canada AM.
"Instead, it was the beginning of three and a half years of fine leadership where the morale of the Canadian Forces was really revitalized."
Hillier's successor
Hillier said Natynczyk is the perfect candidate to replace him as chief of defence.
"Walt is probably the best officer with whom I ever had the opportunity to work with," Hillier said.
"He's got incredible values, great experience, command time, international time, domestic time. My advice to Walter has been be yourself. You've got those great characteristics that led you to getting the appointment here today. He's a great leader and as I told him I'll be at his beck and call, or not, as he decides."
Natynczyk, who will be promoted from his role as vice-chief of defence staff, has been referred to as a "gentleman's soldier" by Defence Minister Peter MacKay.
He has acknowledged that Hillier will be a tough act to follow, but said he expects to put his own stamp on the military.
Shortly after his appointment was announced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Natynczyk, who is affectionately known among the troops as "Uncle Walt," told reporters he was honoured to be selected as the new CDS.
"I'm looking forward to providing the leadership to the men and women of the Canadian Forces, providing security for Canada, for Canadians, and... for all those families of our military men and women," he said.
The change of command ceremony, which began at 10 a.m. ET, was presided over by Governor General Michaelle Jean.
JUST IN: Wednesday, July 2, 2008 1304
General Walt Natynczyk is officially the new Chief of the Defence Staff for the Canadian Forces. General Natynczyk was given the top command in a ceremony at Uplands presided over by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaelle Jean, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada. Prime Minister Stephen Harper, as well as Minister of National Defence Peter MacKay attended the ceremony."We are torn between sadness at bidding farewell to a general whom we greatly admire and joy at welcoming as the head of the Canadian Forces a generous man and a fine officer," said the Governor General. "These emotions speak volumes of the respect that we have for them both. A respect that resonates at all levels of Canada's military, from myself as commander-in-chief to soldiers of every rank and stripe to their families."The Canadian Forces have the important and challenging responsibility of protecting Canada and Canadians and contributing to international stability," said Prime Minister Stephen Harper. "It is critical that they have a Chief of Defence Staff that offers strong leadership and expertise.""General Natynczyk has the extensive knowledge and experience necessary to ensure our Canadian Forces continue their fine work into the future," said Minister of National Defence Peter MacKay.General Natynczyk takes over as Chief of the Defence Staff from General Rick Hillier, who assumed leadership in February 2005. General Hillier is retiring from the Canadian Forces after 35 years of dedicated service.

Canada Day Parade in Cambridge, ON

A REMINDER of the upcoming parade on July 1st! Canada Day!

FOCSIA (Families of Soldiers Serving in Afghanistan) will be honouring all soldiers and celebrating Canada during Cambridge ON's Canada Day's largest Parade July 1st, 2008.
Join the soldiers' families along the parade route.. wear your RED - walk with them - but most of all ... honour our soldiers returned, preparing to deploy and those currently serving overseas.
The parade, consisting of approximately 120 -150 entries, will travel 4 kilometers along King Street (Preston) and will end inside Riverside park.

If you are a friend or family member of a soldier or a soldier yourself and would like to take in the parade:

Be at:

The Kinsmen Club of Preston 1400 Hamilton Street Cambridge

(use the following link http://maps.google.com/maps for directions)

no later than 12:15 p.m. for line up. Contact FOCSIA for further details.

The bulk of the parade will line up on Hamilton St. past the Kinsmen Club rooms.

Or show your support along the parade route!

Country's Largest Canada Day Parade
Where: starts from Bishop & King St. to Riverside Park, Cambridge, ON
When: July 1st, 2008 at 1:00 p.m.

Fly-over by The Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association

Support Group for Parents of Canadian Soliders in Afghanistan
FAMILIES OF CANADIAN SOLDIERS IN AFGHANISTAN
If you are a parent or family member of a Canadian Soldier in Southwestern Ontario and you are looking for a support group, email for more information:

focsia@hotmail.com

or

kerrytownson@rogers.com

Support Our Forces 5km Fun Run and Walk

Winnipeg, Manitoba
On June 28th, 2008 at 10 am, Colonel Scott Howden (17 Wing Commander) fired the starting pistol to commence the 5 km Fun Run and Walk sponsored by the Winnipeg Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) at Assiniboine Park Duck Pond.
All proceeds from the race went directly to programs and services for military families in Winnipeg. Yellow Ribbon-Support Our Forces Merchandise was available for purchase before and after the race. All participants were entered in random prize draws that took place at the conclusion of the race. Sounds like it was a lot of fun and very supportive of our families and troops! Thank you to all who joined. The Winnipeg MFRC "has been wonderful to all moms wives and families at home. "

Shown here is a proud military mom, June, who along with here supportive sisters-in-law participated in the run in support of their son and nephew who is serving in Afghanistan. "We are so proud of that kid (man)" said June. We are proud of him too June along with all those serving alongside Robert overseas!
Now, I'd like to send a BIG:

"HELLO ROBERT!"

~from Military Mom and all your family and friends in Canada! Godspeed!

Golfing With the Troops at CFB Petawawa

____

The New Twin Rivers Golf Club donated a day's pay and time and local business people took to the golf course Friday, as they teed up for a SOLDIERS' APPRECIATION GOLF TOURNAMENT on Friday, June 13th. All profits generated from this tournament was donated to the Canadian Forces "Military Families Fund".
The New Twin Rivers Golf Club created a day that not only supports the families of our deploying members but the soldiers as well.

The cost for individual sponsors was $150. This price provided for two green fees, lunch, supper, free refreshments, and the opportunity to spend the day with a solider in a friendly environment while playing golf as yhey showed their appreciation for soldiers at CFB Petawawa.
More than 122 people spent the day at Twin Rivers Golf Club on CFB Petawawa for the first annual tournament.
Major Martin Lipcsey, base committee golf president, said the intent of the event was to invite the community of Petawawa to personally say "thanks" to soldiers for their efforts in Afghanistan by treating them to a fun-filled day of golf.
"We thought 'Let's bring all the (sponsors) here who support us so they can get to know the soldiers,'" he said.
"The whole community supports the troops, this was an opportunity to show it."
Approximately 50 area business people sponsored the event which provided rounds of golf for the soldiers, as well as food and beverages.
"We had a lot of great sponsors," said Major Lipcsey. "They really made the event."
The tournament was a four-person scramble, with teams of two soldiers and two sponsors playing each hole. The tournament started at 10 a. m. Participants ate lunch together and had a roast beef dinner and awards ceremony at the end of afternoon.
"It's so nice to see the community get together and all the local business men who came in here to support this," said Ken Miles, who has been in the military for 30 years. "This is our way of building bonds and making friends. We couldn't have had a better day."
Manager of Eastway Collision in Pembroke, Carlo Pleau, said he appreciated the opportunity to get to golf with the soldiers.
"We had a good group of guys," he said. "The guys in the service are second to none. It was nice to get to know them.

"When our families call out for help, we must be able to answer that call immediately and substantially. Our families have been here for us through our enrolment, our training, our deployments, and our homecomings. The military life places significant demands on our loved ones. They did not volunteer for service – but serve they do, and with great distinction. It is our turn to be there for our families.”
General Rick Hillier

Former Chief of the Defence Staff

Happy Father's Day 2008

Happy Fathers Day to all Fathers of Soldiers and our soldiers who left their young ones at home while serving overseas. We're thinking of you.. and our hearts and love go out to you today.

1,000 Inmates Escape From Afghan Prison After Blast

Canadian Troops Search Kandahar After Massive Jail Break

Jailbreak frees over 1000 Prisoners ( including some 350 Taliban militants) into Kandahar's Streets - a lot of hard work undone.

Canadian soldiers joined allied and Afghan national security forces in a sweeping door-to-door urban hunt for hundreds of escaped prisoners Friday after the Taliban staged a daring mass breakout at Kandahar City's Sarposa Prison.
A suicide bomber drove to the prison's main entrance and detonated his vehicle Friday around 9:30 p.m. local time.
The massive explosion, heard across the Afghanistan's second-largest city, destroyed the gate and a police checkpoint, burying guards under rubble and killing scores.
Witnesses said as many as 30 motorcycles then raced forward, carrying armed men firing rocket-propelled grenades, machine guns and AK-47s. A second hole was blasted in a rear wall of the prison, the largest such facility in southern Afghanistan.
During the ensuing 20-minute battle inside the prison and in the city's west side, hundreds of prisoners were able to flee.
Wali Karzai, president of Kandahar's provincial council and the brother of President Hamid Karzai, told local reporters a short time later that all the inmates had fled. Late into the night, however, it remained unclear exactly how many escaped from the prison, which houses almost 1,200 inmates, including about 400 Taliban militants.
Some prison officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, estimated that as many as 800 prisoners managed to escape, while an unknown number were killed in a gun battle between police and Taliban fighters inside the jail.
"I think scores of others are caught up inside," one prison official told Reuters.
The blast caused an unknown number of casualties among the guards, prison director Abdul Qadir told Reuters.
"They (Taliban) used a truck to blow the gate open and all of the guards (at the gate) have been killed and are under rubble," he said by telephone. As he spoke, bursts of gunfire could be heard in the background.
A Taliban spokesman said the group was claiming responsibility.
Rockets were also fired at nearby Camp Nathan Smith, home of the Canadian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team, but witnesses said they fell far short.
Members of a Canadian Forces company protecting the team were among hundreds of security forces who responded to the daring attack, which came just days after Kandahar province's police chief, Brig.-Gen. Sayed Agha Saqib, told reporters here that the security situation in the city was good.
"We believe that the situation is under control," Joint Task Force Afghanistan spokesman Maj. Jay Janzen told reporters at Kandahar Airfield several hours after the brazen attack.
A security cordon had been established and a massive overnight search operation was launched in the city.
Canadian military sources could not initially confirm witness reports that Canadian tanks were rolling through the city.
The Canadian military's Janzen said International Security Assistance Force troops had helped establish a "security perimeter" in the area as the search continues for the many fugitives.
The stunningly successful attack comes at a time when Taliban insurgent activity is flaring up in Afghanistan's volatile south, where most of Canada's 2,500 troops in the country are deployed.
"We believe things are improving," said Janzen. "We're working hard with our Afghan allies to bring stability to the region."
The U.S. military has handed over an unspecified number of suspected Taliban fighters to Afghan custody under a program agreed to last year to transfer all Afghan prisoners from U.S. detention.
The U.S. military has arrested thousands of suspected Taliban and al-Qaida militants since invading Afghanistan in 2001 to help topple the Taliban government.
Last month, some 200 Taliban suspects being held at Sarposa, some of them without trial for more than two years, staged a week-long hunger strike before a parliamentary delegation promised their cases would be reviewed.
The number of al-Qaida-backed Taliban attacks has increased since 2006 and the prison raid ranks as one of the biggest.
The militants tried to assassinate President Hamid Karzai in April when he was attending a military parade near the presidential palace in Kabul. They are active mostly in southern and eastern areas near the border with Pakistan.
Canada, through the Provincial Reconstruction Team, is currently involved in the physical restoration of the mud-walled Sarposa and the training of its guards.
Friday's attack came a day after international donors in Paris pledged more than $20 billion for Afghanistan's development and security projects.
The resurgence of Taliban comes despite the presence of more than 60,000 foreign troops, including 2,500 Canadian troops, under the command of NATO and the U.S. military, as well as more than 150,000 government forces.
Liberal Senator Colin Kenny, chair of the Senate's defence committee, said the prison break raises disturbing questions about the conduct of coalition troops in Afghanistan.
He questioned how Canadian or other troops with the International Security Assistance Force failed to detect, with night-vision equipment, the after-dark movements of the attackers.
Kenny, whose committee recently returned from Kandahar, said the attack clearly shows there are not enough soldiers in southern Afghanistan.
His committee released a report this week, calling for an additional 4,000 NATO troops in the southern region.
Also on Friday, U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates pressed fellow alliance defence ministers to contribute more troops to Afghanistan, but failed to get firm commitments.

What are your thoughts on this? ....

• Do you think the guards were involved?


• Will we be able to capture the insurgents including Taliban escapees?


• Should the insurgents have been kept in a prison in the same country where they are still fighting or should they have been transported out of country after capture?


• Should we go into Pakistan to re-capture fled prisoners?

Let me know how you feel. (you can post comments anonymously if you wish)

Canada won't leave until Afghan Work Done

PARIS - Canada, one of numerous countries pledging money at a conference here aimed at ramping up western government and public support for the Afghanistan mission, won't follow through on its promise to end its military role in Kandahar in 2011, an Afghan parliamentarian predicted Thursday.
Dr. Zalmai, chairman of a National Assembly committee responsible for dealing with corruption complaints, said he's confident Canada won't withdraw its 2,500 troops from Kandahar until the international community decides Afghanistan is ready.
``We are with the people of Canada, we appreciate their sacrificing, their help, their contributing to the reconstruction of Afghanistan,'' said Zalmai, who goes by only one name.
``As a parliamentarian I'm sure Canada will remain with us. They will never leave the Afghan people,'' he said.
His comments, made prior to Foreign Affairs Minister David Emerson's presentation to the conference, echo those of two members of a Senate committee that tabled a report Wednesday assessing Canada's progress in Afghanistan.
Liberal Senator Colin Kenny, chairman of the Senate's national security and defence committee, and Conservative Senator Michael Meighen both said they doubted Canada will be able to pull out its troops by then.
One analyst said the Canadian government and Parliament are erring by setting a strict departure time.
Thomas Ruttig, former senior official to both the European Union and the United Nations on Afghanistan matters, said departure times help the Taliban intimidate Afghans who are tempted to co-operate with western soldiers and aid workers.
``Of course the Taliban go around saying, `we have all the time in the world, we'll just wait until all these guys are gone,''' Ruttig told Canwest News Service.
The daylong conference opened Thursday with speeches by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.
Ban praised Karzai's government for promising to stamp out corruption, but said action has to be put behind those words with prosecutions against high- level offenders in government.
``I applaud Afghanistan for signing the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, and I urge the government to take active measures to ensure that it is implemented,'' Ban said.
Karzai, meanwhile, painted a rosy picture of his country's achievements and future objectives in areas such as economic growth, democratic development and human rights.
He called for a long-term international commitment to his country and said Afghanistan's needs include an emphasis on dam rehabilitation and agriculture.
Emerson is expected to share details about Canada's recent announcement that it will increase development and reconstruction aid to Afghanistan from $1.3 billion to $1.9 billion over the 10-year period ending in 2011, when Canada has said it will end its ``military presence'' in Kandahar province.
Canada, one of the world's largest aid donors to Afghanistan, will target the money towards three ``signature'' projects - the rehabilitation of a dam in order to create jobs and boost the agriculture economy in Afghanistan, the construction or renovation of 50 schools, and an expansion of a polio immunization program.
The United States, France, Germany, Japan and the World Bank also pledged billions of dollars more in reconstruction aid to Afghanistan in combined contributions.

Families and Friends to Honour Soldiers at Cambridge's Canada Day Parade July 1st 2008

Cambridge was buzzes with pride and curiosity as thousands of spectators wait with great anticipation for the start of the parade celebrating Canada's 140th Birthday!

Once again, FOCSIA (Families of Soldiers Serving in Afghanistan) will be honouring all soldiers and celebrating Canada during Cambridge ON's Canada Day Parade July 1st, 2008.

Join the soldiers' families along the parade route.. wear your RED - walk with them - but most of all ... honour our soldiers returned, preparing to deploy and those currently serving overseas.

Country's Largest Canada Day Parade

Where: starts from Bishop & King St. to Riverside Park, Cambridge, ON

When: July 1st, 2008 at 1:00 p.m.

Fly-over by The Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association

Support Group for Parents of Canadian Soliders in Afghanistan

FAMILIES OF CANADIAN SOLDIERS IN AFGHANISTAN

If you are a parent or family member of a Canadian Soldier in Southwestern Ontario and you are looking for a support group, email for more information: focsia@hotmail.com or kerrytownson@rogers.com

June 7th 2007 - Bless Captain Jonathan Sutherland Snyder

It is with sadness on this day we announce the death of our brave Canadian Soldier, Captain Jonathan Sutherland Snyder.

On Saturday, June 7th, 2008, a soldier was killed at approximately 9:00 p.m., Kandahar time. The soldier was killed after falling into a well while conducting a security patrol in Zhari District.The fallen soldier is Captain Jonathan (Jon) Sutherland Snyder of the 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, based in Edmonton, Alberta.Members of Captain Snyder's patrol tried to extract him from the well, but were unsuccessful. Medical, engineering and search and rescue assets were rushed to the scene, and Capt Snyder was lifted out of the well. He was evacuated by helicopter to the Multi-National Medical Unit at Kandahar Airfield, but sadly was pronounced dead upon arrival.This accident has impacted us all, and the thoughts and prayers of the entire Canadian Task Force are with Capt Snyder's family and friends. We are deeply saddened by his death, and will not forget his commitment and dedication to his fellow soldiers and to this mission. Capt Snyder gave his life while mentoring Afghan soldiers as they conducted operations to enhance security for the people of Zhari District. We will not forget his sacrifice.
Capt Snyder, le 7 juin 2008Aujourd’hui, vers 21 h, heure de Kandahar, le Capitaine Jonathan (Jon) Sutherland Snyder est décédé après être tombé dans un puits au cours d’une patrouille de sécurité dans le district de Zhari. Le Capt Snyder était un membre du 1st Bataillon, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, basé à Edmonton, en Alberta.

God Bless you Captain Snyder and all your families and friends, both here and in Afghanistan.

Lieutenant General Natynczyk Appointed as Chief of the Defence Staff

Our New Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)

Lieutenant General Natynczyk

The Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, welcomed the Prime Minister's announcement today appointing Lt.-Gen. Walt Natynczyk as the new Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS). The appointment will be effective following the Change of Command ceremony which will take place in the coming weeks."I am very pleased that the command of the Canadian Forces is now being passed to the very capable hands of Lt.-Gen. Natynczyk, said Minister MacKay. "Lt.-Gen. Natynczyk assumes the position at a very important time for the Canadian Forces. His leadership and experience will be invaluable as we continue to move forward with the Canada First Defence Strategy and our mission in Afghanistan. I have complete confidence in his ability to build on the foundation laid by General Rick Hillier."
Lt.-Gen. Natynczyk joined the Canadian Forces in August 1975. He attended Royal Roads Military College and College Militaire Royal in St Jean, graduating in 1979 with a degree in Business Administration. Upon completion of Canadian Forces Command and Staff College, he served on the Army Staff in St-Hubert, Quebec. Lt.-Gen. Natynczyk assumed the responsibilities of the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff on 28 June 2006."I'm deeply honoured to receive this appointment," said Lt.-Gen. Natynczyk. "It is truly a privilege to lead the men and women of the Canadian Forces who give so much to their country."General Hillier, who announced his retirement on April 15 after three years of being CDS, expressed confidence in Lt.-Gen. Natynczyk's ability to lead the Canadian Forces. "I have never worked with a finer officer than Lt.-Gen. Natynczyk. He has all the skills, experience and values to command the Canadian Forces and will have my full support. I congratulate him on his appointment and will hand over to him with the full knowledge that he will continue to adapt, and improve our Forces to accomplish the tasks Canadians need us to perform."


A native of Winnipeg, LGen Natynczyk joined the Canadian Forces in August 1975. He attended Royal Roads Military College and Collège Militaire Royal in St Jean, graduating in 1979 with a degree in Business Administration degree. His formative years were spent on NATO duty in Germany with The Royal Canadian Dragoons in troop command and staff appointments.
In 1983, LGen Natynczyk assumed duties as a Squadron Commander at the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario. In 1986, he commenced a five-year regimental tour in Petawawa, serving in several staff and squadron command appointments; this tour included six months of UN peacekeeping duties in Cyprus. On completion of Canadian Forces Command and Staff College, he served on the Army Staff in St Hubert Quebec.
In May 1994, LGen Natynczyk embarked upon a year-long tour with the United Nations in the Former Yugoslavia as Sector South-West Chief of Operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina within HQ 7 (UK) Armoured Brigade, then as the Chief of Land Operations, UNPROFOR HQ in Zagreb, Croatia. In June 1995 LGen Natynczyk was assigned to the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff within National Defence HQ in Ottawa. He then commanded his regiment for two years, leading the Dragoons during domestic operations in the Ottawa region during the 1998 Ice Storm. LGen Natynczyk returned to Bosnia in 1998 as the Canadian Contingent Commander. On his return to Ottawa in March 1999 he was appointed J3 Plans and Operations during the period of deployments to Kosovo, Bosnia, East Timor and Eritrea.
LGen Natynczyk attended the U.S. Army War College and was subsequently appointed Deputy Commanding General, III Corps and Fort Hood. In January 2004, he deployed with III Corps to Baghdad, Iraq, serving first as the Deputy Director of Strategy, Policy and Plans and subsequently as the Deputy Commanding General of the Multi-National Corps (Iraq). Upon his return to Canada he assumed command of the Land Force Doctrine and Training System. He was subsequently appointed Chief Transformation where he was responsible for implementation of the force restructuring and the enabling processes and policies.
LGen Natynczyk assumed the responsibilities of the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff on 28 June 2006.
Yes boys.. it'a a fellow soldier!

Bless Captain Richard Leary - June 03, 2008

He is home. Our Hero is home.

I

Wednesday, June 03, 2008

It is with sadness that I announce that one of our Canadian soldiers was killed today at approximately 9:30 a.m., Kandahar time (0100Cnd). He was killed by direct fire when a joint Afghan-Canadian dismounted security patrol came under small arms fire from insurgents in the Panjwayi District.

Captain Richard Leary,

3 June 08

0930
Captain Richard Steven Leary was killed on June 3, 2008 when he came under direct enemy fire during a patrol in the Panjwayi district. The incident occurred around 9:30 a.m. Kandahar time. Capt Leary was a member of the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, based out of Shilo, Manitoba.

~Le Capitaine Richard (Steve) Leary est décédé le 3 juin 2008 lorsqu’une patrouille à pied à laquelle il participait a essuyé des tirs ennemis directs dans le district de Panjwayi. L’incident est survenu vers 9 h 30, heure de Kandahar. Le Capt Leary était un membre du 2nd Bataillon, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry basé à Shilo, au Manitoba.

Taliban militants killed a Canadian platoon commander in Afghanistan today (Tuesday, June 3, 2008) as he tried to guide his soldiers to safety, in an area of farmland west of Kandahar. Capt. Richard (Steve) Leary, 32, was leading Canadian and Afghan troops in a foot patrol in the Panjwaii district of Kandahar province when they were ambushed by small arms fire shortly after 9 a.m. local time. The soldiers returned fire, then repositioned under Leary's leadership in what became a half-hour-long battle. Close air support was called in and the insurgents were pushed back. Leary was struck at about 9:30 a.m., said Colonel Jamie Cade during a news conference. No other soldiers were hurt in the gunfire. "Captain Leary was what we in uniform are expected to be. Captain Leary was a soldier and Captain Leary was a leader," Cade said. "In his memory and the memory of those that have gone before him we remain steadfast in our resolve to bring peace and stability to the people of Afghanistan. He will be greatly missed by his military family." Leary was a platoon commander with 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, based out of Shilo, Man. Originally from Brantford, Ont., he was on his first overseas mission. He leaves behind his wife Rachel, his parents Richard and Gail and his sister Brandi. His repatriation ceremony is tentatively scheduled for June 6. After being shot, Leary was airlifted to the medical facility at Kandahar Airfield where he was pronounced dead by a medical officer. "Every death is deeply painful to us, but it is a risk that we as members of the Canadian Armed Forces understand and assume as we work to bring peace and stability to a country that has been torn apart by war," Cade said. Senior army spokesman Maj. Jay Janzen said Leary's men are taking the loss with much difficulty. "When you lose a leader as effective as Capt. Leary, as personable, it is difficult, but we're just thinking about (his) family right now,'' he said. Defence Minister Peter MacKay, the Governor General, the prime minister and the opposition party leaders have all extended their condolences to Leary's family.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Capt Leary's family and friends both in Canada and in Afghanistan during this very difficult time. We are deeply saddened by the loss of Capt. Leary. In his memory, and in memory of those who have gone before, we will increase our support and resolve to bring peace and stability to the people of Afghanistan.

"Capt. Steve Leary (my cousin) was an amazing man. He truly was a hero. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Nobody should have to die this young but he died fighting for what he believed in. Peace." ~Chelsea Embry

If you wish to view or sign the guest book in Capt Leary's memory, please click here.

Soldier's Widow Says He was Her Best Friend Thursday, June 5, 2008
They were together for more than half their lives, having been a couple since high school, and were best friends.
Rachel Leary described him as a brave and dedicated man.
"He believed in what he was doing, and he was dedicated to all his guys," Leary said through tears, reading from a prepared statement at Canadian Forces Base Shilo.
For nearly two years, the couple had called Shilo home. Richard Leary was often called "Rich" by his colleagues on the base, a military spokeswoman said.
Whenever her husband was away, Leary said she always knew how much he cared.
"No matter where he was, whether he was training or ... I never doubted how much he loved or missed me," said Leary, 29.
"He was my very best friend, and a wonderful husband."
The Learys, who met in their hometown of Brantford, Ont., have been together since he was 16 and she was 14, Richard's aunt, Terry Careswell, told the Brantford Expositor on Tuesday.
They were to celebrate their sixth wedding anniversary in August, said Lori Truscott, a military spokeswoman based at Shilo.
As Leary read her statement, she was surrounded by soldiers and flanked by Wanda Watkins, the mother of Pte. Lane Watkins, a Manitoba soldier who was killed last summer in Afghanistan.
"I want every Canadian out there to know that every soldier has someone behind them who loves them and supports them and sacrifices for them," said Leary, her voice shaking.
Asking for privacy to deal with her grief and emotions, Leary did not take reporters' questions.
Richard Leary is also survived by his parents Richard and Gail, and his sister Brandi.
In Afghanistan, thousands of NATO soldiers attended a ramp ceremony Wednesday that marked Leary's final journey home.
A military ceremony is planned for Friday at CFB Trenton in Ontario.


Thursday, June 04, 2008- Military Family Says Goodbye
" ... Be gentle as we walk our brother home ..." Capt. Darren Persaud, battle group chaplain.
Master Cpl. Lizette Leblanc and Cpl. Jessie Veltri carry the casket of Capt. Richard (Steve) Leary at Kandahar Airfield on Wednesday, June 4, 2008. Photo Credit: CP

It is the slow march back to Canada. Or at least as far as a lost soldier's uniformed compatriots can take him – into the belly of a Hercules aircraft."Task Force Afghanistan: To your fallen comrade salute!" the base commander bellowed.And thousands snapped to attentionFive long columns of troops – from Canada, the United States, Holland, France, Romania, Australia, Denmark and Britain – bade a solemn farewell last night to Capt. Richard "Stevo" Leary, killed in a firefight in Panjwaii district Tuesday morning.The ramp ceremonies are always poignant, humbling and quietly overwhelming. There is such unnatural stillness in the tableau.With the soldiers assembled, marching in precision form to their places, the LAV hearse appeared on the edge of the Kandahar Airfield, flag-draped coffin protruding from the rear.The sun, just starting to set, cast slanting rays across the tarmac, silhouetting the turret gunner atop the vehicle.Gently, the casket was removed and placed on the shoulders of eight pallbearers, seven men and one female, arms clasped to brace the weight of their burden.In the front, Pte. Jessie Veltri struggled to contain his sobs but tears mixed with sweat as the bearer party approached the plane. At the back, Master Cpl. Jaison Levanen carried Leary's beret and badge and, behind him, Capt. Ludger Hacault piped a lament.The dead platoon commander's men, most of them, were still out in the area of operations, unable to attend the ceremony, though saluting their captain privately in their combat post last night."Rich Leary – Steve as he was known to his family – was a very stoic individual, very solid leader, extremely loyal and renowned for his loyalty to his troops," Lt.-Col. Dave Corbould told reporters afterward.It was always the mission and his men. They were always first, well before his own personal thoughts. He was a real inspiration to his troops."Leary died of gunshot wounds when his platoon – on a joint patrol mission with Afghan forces – was ambushed by insurgents, in a chronically restive region west of the main base.Leary, Second Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, graduated from officer training just two years ago but was apparently eager to serve in Afghanistan.He was at least the second officer struck down this past week – another, in a separate incident on Monday, was severely wounded by a roadside explosion during a dismounted patrol, and was flown to an American military hospital in Germany for further medical treatment.All this means abrupt adjustments at the platoon command level and younger officers promoted to lead."They're handling it well, as could be expected," said Corbould of Leary's troops. "As Capt. Leary was loyal to his men, they're loyal to his memory. And they're getting on with the mission."Capt. Darren Persaud, the battle group chaplain, gave a short but very moving eulogy for the fallen soldier."We stand at attention to honour the ultimate sacrifice of a son, husband and dear friend. His wish to serve his country by leading his troops into combat was one of his greatest desires. When he was informed that he was coming to Afghanistan, he could not have been happier."He loved his wife, he loved his work, and he loved his troops. His zeal for life was paralleled only by his fiery sense of humour, and a passion to lead. He was a soldier's leader and a great friend."In the eloquent prayer Persaud delivered afterwards, he spoke tenderly of "unfinished conversations", long nights to come full of questions, pain, longing, anger, confusion."Let us not despair," he counselled.Persaud ended with these words:"Capt. Leary, it is for you I eternally pray, dear brother. Rest in peace."

REPATRIATION CEREMONY- He's Coming Home

Our fallen soldier, Captain Richard (Steve) Leary, a member of the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, based in Shilo, Manitoba, is scheduled to return home to Canada tomorrow.

Where: 8 Wing Trenton, Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Ontario.
When: Friday, June 6, 2008, 2 p.m.

Present to pay their respects will be the Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and other dignitaries.

Honour our fallen soldier and his family- wear your red, bring your flag... gather along the 401 and overpasses between Trenton and Toronto (our Highway of Heroes). He is coming home.

Repatriation Ceremony - CFB Trenton - Friday, June 6, 2008

The casket of Captain Richard Leary is loaded into a waiting hearse during his repatriation ceremony at CFB Trenton, in Trenton, Ont. on Friday June 6,

Captain Richard Leary's family members walk to a hearse carrying him at at Canadian Forces Base in Trenton. Photo credit: Fred Thornhill

A repatriation ceremony was held Friday afternoon to mark the return of the most recent Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan.
The plane carrying the body of Capt. Richard Steve Leary touched down at Canadian Forces Base Trenton - about 220 kilometres southwest of Ottawa - at 2 p.m., under a hazy sky and was greeted by family and other mourners.
Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Rick Hillier and his successor, Lt-Gen. Walter Natynczyk, who was named to the top job earlier in the day, attended the ceremony.
"It certainly seems supportive of the family and overall, the Canadian Forces, to have them both here on the tarmac," said Capt. Nicole Meszaros, public affairs officer at CFB Trenton.
Defence Minister Peter MacKay also attended the ceremony.
Leary's family approached his flag-draped coffin once it was loaded off the plane into a waiting hearse and had an "emotional" few moments, said Meszaros.
Members of the public were there to show their support and watched from outside the fence around the base.
"There were many, many flags at the fenceline," said Meszaros. She also expected supporters to be lining the stretch of Highway 401 to Toronto, dubbed the Highway of Heroes, where Leary's body was to be taken.
"I know that Canadians were coming out along the 401 to pay respect to the family," she added.
In the wake of his death, the 32 year old was praised as an effective and dedicated leader and earlier this week his wife, and high school sweetheart, Rachel told the media that Leary was "my very best friend and a wonderful husband." The pair grew up in Brantford, Ont.

Journey Along the Highway of Heroes

Maureen Campeau stood in the afternoon heat on an overpass near Brighton, Ont., with only a camouflage-coloured hat decorated in military pins and other paraphernalia to shelter her from the oppressive sun.
But her mind wasn't on the weather.
She was one of dozens of people waiting for the body of Capt. Richard (Steve) Leary to pass beneath. Leary was killed Tuesday during a firefight with Taliban militants in Afghanistan, and his body had been repatriated to Canadian soil only minutes ago at Canadian Forces Base Trenton, just down the road.
Campeau and the others, many dressed in red and clutching Canadian flags, were there to show support for Leary's family as they accompanied his body down Highway 401 - dubbed the Highway of Heroes for the 83 soldiers' bodies that made the journey previously - to Toronto, where it will be examined by a coroner.
Campeau, who is from Brighton, has three brothers-in-law in the Armed Forces, and she said she was "ashamed" this was only the second time she stood on the overpass to show her support.
"It's the only way you can say thank you," she said, her eyes filling with tears.
"When you lose someone close to you, it's nice to know that other people are there to support you. I will be here from now on. Hopefully there won't be another, but if there is, I will be here."
The hearse's arrival was heralded by a single black police car, its siren wailing. The overpass fell silent as people waved their flags or simply stood and stared, some with hands over their mouths.
Afterwards, Cindy Clitherow picked up her baby and took her four-year-old daughter by the hand. It was the first time she had come out to stand on the overpass.
"It's interesting to explain this to a four-year-old, but she understands what she can, and I think it's important that she's here," Clitherow said.
At CFB Trenton, several other supporters lined up outside the air base where the plane delivering Leary's body landed.
Jim Dixon of Belleville, Ont., has only missed four repatriation ceremonies out of the 84 that have been held, and he plans to keep on coming.
He doesn't have any family members in the military, but he believes it's important show support just the same.
"It means a lot to the family to see such a large turnout," Dixon said.
Colin Stillwell, a retired serviceman who spent 28 years in the Canadian Forces, said he's missed "less than six" repatriation ceremonies.
"It's paying respects to a fallen comrade, and it's also to show support to the family that the loss was not in vain and that we do appreciate the sacrifice that the soldier made," Stillwell said. The near 30C temperatures took a toll on military officers who surrounded the plane to salute Leary's return. One nearly collapsed and needed to be taken away in a wheelchair.
Meanwhile, members of Leary's family watched from a shaded area underneath a tent, several of them clutching red flowers.
After the casket was placed in the hearse, about six family members were ushered to the vehicle, where they embraced for several minutes.
The hearse then left for Leary's hometown of Brantford, where the family is expected to hold a private funeral service

Statement by the Minister of National Defence : The Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, issued the following statement today on the death of a Canadian soldier in Afghanistan:

"Today we are united in our grief for Captain Richard (Steve) Leary who died in the line of duty in Afghanistan. To his family, friends and loved ones, we extend our deepest sympathies.Captain Leary and his fellow soldiers are affecting positive change in support of the United Nation-mandated, NATO-led mission in Afghanistan. Their bravery and sacrifice allows the Afghan people to rebuild their country after decades of turmoil. I join with Canadians, in respect and admiration, for the men and women in uniform who protect Canadians and promote the Canadian values of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law."

Statement by Prime Minister Harper
"On behalf of the Government of Canada and all Canadians, I extend my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Captain Richard (Steve) Leary who died today in Afghanistan. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time. “Captain Leary was killed while engaged with insurgents during a joint security patrol in the Panjwayi District. He was making a difference, working alongside his fellow soldiers, to rebuild a war torn country. “The Afghan people have a right to freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. These are the values that we hold dear in Canada and these are values that our brave Canadian Forces’ members are working to promote in Afghanistan.“We honour Captain Leary’s sacrifice. His efforts will not be forgotten.”

125th Anniversaryof Dragoons and RCR

The public is invited to attend:

The 125th Anniversary Parade

of

the Royal Canadian Dragoons

and

Royal Canadian Regiment

on

Saturday, June 7th, 2008

at

9:00 a.m.

on

Parliament Hill

Ottawa

The parade will consist of two ceremonial guards of one hundred soldiers each. They will be parading in full ceremonial scarlet uniforms in front of the Parliament Buildings to recognize the 125 years of service to Canada during both peace and war.

Also parading on the Hill will be a Gun Troop from 2nd Regiment, the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery firing gun salutes with their 105mm cannons.

Music will be provided by:

the Canadian Forces Ceremonial Guard Band and

the 2nd Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment Pipes and Drums.
Featured before and during the parade will be a series of static displays, showcasing the vehicles and equipment used by both Regiments throughout their history. The parade will conclude around mid-day with a march-past of the Regiments, and a roll-past of the vehicles as they move east along Wellington Street and continue past the National War Memorial and conclude at the Cartier Square Drill Hall for a post-parade reception.

Congratulations Dragoons and RCR!

Enduring the Heat

Think of our troops currently serving overseas today as the temperatures have climbed to a balmy 44 degrees celcius today. (and remember all the equipment they carry and the uniform they wear- some sitting in a cozy warm vehicle.)

Bless our troops for all they do and endure.

Toronto Blue Jays Honour our Troops

MILITARY APPRECIATION DAY

Saturday, June 7, 2008

BALTIMORE ORIOLES vs. TORONTO BLUE JAYS

Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON

1:07 PM

Join the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre as they honour the Canadian Military with the 4th Annual Canadian Forces Day.
Let your Canadian Forces members know you appreciate their service and keep up their morale by attending this game. Tickets are located in the Field Level Bases, and are discounted to $40, with proceeds of each ticket being returned to the Military Family Resource Centre. To purchase discounted tickets and secure great seats for the game, please do not forget to input the promo code GP-MIA08. To purchase tickets online, click here. To purchase groups of 10+ or for more information, please call Paul Rabeau at 416-341-1670 or by e-mail paul.rabeau@bluejays.com

A BIG HUA to our Blue Jays!!

And don't forget to wear your red!

On behalf of military families: Thanks Jennifer for the heads up!