Team Captains of the Canadian Olympic Hockey Teams have written a letter to show the troops to show their appreciation. I wanted to share it with you. quest for the Gold Medal.
Have a great tour troops, wherever you may be, enjoy the Olympics, and good luck to our Hockey heroes in their quest for the Gold Medal.

February 5, 2010

To OUR Troops,

As we get ready to represent Canada at the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Februaryand March, we wanted to take a minute to let each and every one of you know how much of an inspiration you will be in our quest for three gold medals in the coming months.

People throw out words like war and battle way too often when speaking about sports such as hockey.,,As athletes, we know that what we do for our country can never measure up to your contributions ‐ the sacrifice and dedication that our armed forces show on a daily basis.

When we take to the ice, rest assured that we will have you in our thoughts and prayers. We are so proud to be Canadians, and owe so much of what we have here to you, the Canadian military.

We will do our best to represent you well in competition, and look forward to a day in the very near future when you will return home safely in Canada, and all Canadians can thank you in person.

All the best,
Jean Labonte
Captain Sledge Hockey Team

Scott Niedermayer
Captain Men's Hockey Team

Hayley Wickenheiser
Captain Women's Hockey Team

Canada Post Will Continue Program of Free Delivery to Deployed Troops

I'd like to thank Canada Post and the Canadian Forces for conjunctively bringing families and friends closer to their families and friends closer through the holiday season through this service. I know there are many families through Canada who have shown deep appreciation for this service. All the best to you for a warm holiday.
To families and friends: a reminder - when sending a letter, to benefit from this free service, remember to take it to a postal office to mail rather than depositing it in a mailbox. The staff need to stamp the envelope. Some families who have deposited their cherished letters in the mailbox, have had them returned, which is unfortunate.
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Canada Post will continue program of free delivery to deployed troops

Oct. 26, 2009
OTTAWA (October 26, 2009)—Canada Post announced today it will again provide free delivery of letters and parcels from family and friends to Canadian troops deployed in Afghanistan and elsewhere overseas. This will be the fourth year that Canada Post has offered this service. Free parcel service for family and friends of deployed Canadian troops will be provided from October 26, 2009 to January 15, 2010.
Last year Canada Post forwarded more than 21,000 parcels to our Canadian troops serving in Afghanistan and elsewhere overseas, an increase of 60 per cent over the previous year. Family and friends of deployed troops will also be able to continue sending letters free throughout 2010. At the end of this period, Canada Post and the Department of National Defence will jointly evaluate the program.
"We are pleased to be able to show our continued support for our troops serving overseas and their families," said Moya Greene, president and chief executive officer of Canada Post.
“This program allows Canadians at home to extend their best wishes to loved ones far away in the service of Canada, often in dangerous places,” said the Honourable Rob Merrifield, Minister of State (Transport). “It is an excellent initiative and one I very much support.”
With capacity limitations on military aircraft carrying supplies and munitions to deployed forces, this offer is restricted to family and friends of the deployed service men and women serving overseas in war zones. That includes members of the Canadian Forces serving in Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Sinai and Jerusalem. Troops serving on any of the deployed Her Majesty's Canadian Ships are also included in the offer.
To ensure the proper customs declaration form and addressing information, the letters and parcels will need to be deposited at one of Canada Post's more than 6,600 full-service retail outlets across the country (letters and packages dropped in regular street letter boxes will not qualify). They will then be forwarded to Canadian Forces Bases in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Victoria, British Columbia and Belleville, Ontario. Once delivered to the military bases, the Department of National Defence will take charge of the letters and parcels and ensure their delivery overseas. All mail must be addressed to a specific soldier, including rank and mission information.

Last Letters From Kandahar

In the next while, I will be publishing "Last Letters from Kandahar" A tribute that MacLeans had done this past Remembrance Day. Personally, they have hit me emotionally. These letters—poi­gnant, personal and free of political rhetoric—are a lasting tribute to not only the individual authors, but to all men and women who serve in uniform. Godspeed.

The first is from:

PRIVATE WILLIAM CUSHLEY, 21 Born in Port Lambton, Ont., Cushley was a mem­ber of the 1st Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment based in Petawawa, ON. He was among five men killed in Afghanistan on Labour Day weekend of 2006.

The morning he deployed to Afghanistan, his mother, Elaine, drop­ped him off at the bus. She promised not to cry—going so far as to bet her only son $50 that her eyes would stay dry. Moments after Cushley climbed on board, his mom lost the wager. He got off the bus, gave her one last hug, then left for Kandahar. On Sept. 3, 2006, Cushley was killed in a chaotic battle with the Taliban.

Below is a copy of the handwritten note he left for his mother.
If you are reading this, I’m sorry, but I will not be coming back home. Thank you for everything you have ever done for me. I really do appreciate it. You were always there for me even when I didn’t want you to be. I have one last favour to ask you. In this envelope is two more letters, one for Tasha, one for Brandy. If you could please deliver them to them I would really appreciate it. I just want you to know that I love you and that I fought bravely and did everything I could to come home. Do not weep too much, I will always be with you in heart & spirit! Love always & forever, Will P.S.—you can keep the $50! LOL.

A letter was recently written to the Editor of this woman's local paper. It was a letter regarding the Families of Canadian Soldier's recent Friday Red Rally held October 26. The letter was published-however it was an "editted" version. I am publishing the letter in its entirety here.
Thank you Jane for speaking up on behalf of families of soldiers and supporters present at the rally.

October 29, 2007,

John Roe, Editorial Page Editor
The Record
jroe@therecord.com

Dear Sir

A Red Shirt Rally was held last Friday, October 26th at the Waterloo Cenotaph. Although the Record was notified well in advance they chose not to report on it. The anti-war protest on Saturday received a large headline and several paragraphs of coverage in the Monday paper. According to the Record, the protesters oppose the mission but they do support the troops. The Red Shirt Rally was neither supporting nor opposing the mission but was simply to support the troops.
Since the Record chose not to report on this community event, I would like to use this forum to inform the Record readers of the Red Shirt Rally that was organized by the family support group, Families of Canadian Soldiers in Afghanistan. It is estimated that about 300 people attended through the 12 to 1 time period.
There was a minute of silence, Piper Cpl Ryan Pagnacco played the lament “Flowers of the Forest” and later on Amazing Grace. Dan Gray read his poem,” Red Friday Rally”. Capt Phil Ralph representing the Sapper Mike McTeague’s Wounded Warrior Fund, spoke about the formation of this fund and what the donations are used for. Rick Poland, whose brother was killed this past Easter, came from Sarnia to show his appreciation for all the support he and his family have received in their bereavement.
Again this year, a banner was available for everyone to sign so that they could send personal messages to our troops. We know that the soldiers who are serving abroad very much appreciate knowing that we are thinking of them, and will read every name on that banner when it arrives at the Kandahar Air Field.
Through the sale of hamburgers and hot dogs, over $1000.00 was raised for the Wounded Warrior Fund. Further funds were raised from sales of “Support Our Troops” merchandise that is sanctioned by the Canadian Forces. The sale of red shirts, yellow ribbon pins and other items supports the Military Family Resource Centres which are situated on or near military bases.
Without the participation and donations from local businesses, radio stations and others who helped, this event would not have been the success that we deemed it to be. We thank all those who took time over their lunch hour to pay tribute to our soldiers for the many sacrifices they make to serve our country. Between deployments they spend many weeks and months away from their homes taking courses and in field exercises. They miss the family events that mean so much – family milestones, celebrations, or lending support in sickness or bereavement. When they are deployed to Afghanistan, or anywhere else, they are taken away from all that is familiar and they cope with what is thrust upon them, often in the very worst of circumstances.
Think of them now and Wear Red on Friday.
THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN SO FAR AWAY FROM HOME

Jane Annandale
Families of Canadian Soldiers in Afghanistan

A Letter from Paul Filsinger

This is a letter from Paul Filsinger. Paul had initiated an email writing campaign to council members in the Waterloo Region to gain support for our troops. Vehicles in the Waterloo region are now adopting to sporting the "Support our Troops" magnets and decals. As well the police officers will be affixing pins to their lapels. Paul's letter speaks well on behalf of military families. Thank you Paul! A big HUA!

Thank you for your support
Thank you does not seem adequate to express appreciation for the recent decision made by local politicians to display the Support Our Troops ribbons on municipal vehicles as a tangible show of support for the men and women in the Canadian Forces. The yellow ribbon is an internationally recognized symbol that expresses support for our troops. It conveys that we think of them, honour them, and hope for their safe return home.
Therefore, we simply want to say thanks. Thank you to Mayors Zehr, Halloran, Craig, and councillors of Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge. You listened, considered our request, and then acted decisively to display the ribbon. To Regional Chair, Ken Seiling and councillors for joining the growing grassroots yellow ribbon campaign that is sweeping across the Region. To Police Chief Larry Gravill and Police Board for the addition of the lapel pin for the men and women of our police force who serve and protect our communities every day. To EMS, thank you for your support for our troops by affixing a special decal to your emergency vehicles. To the Tri-cities Fire Chiefs, Firefighters Association, and staff for your support to display the yellow ribbon. To the media and citizens of the region who stepped forward to express and show your support. And to the growing number of people and companies in the community who are displaying the yellow ribbon on your vehicles, lapels, and homes, our sincerest thanks. You have stood together in solidarity with our sons and daughters and their families. Thank you for your support.

Paul Filsinger
On behalf of – Families of Canadian Soldiers in Afghanistan

Canadian Soldiers Echo Hillier's Frustration with Focus on Detainees

SPIN BOLDAK, Afghanistan (CP) - A dog-eared letter from a young student in Canada is having greater resonance among Canadian troops at a remote outpost in Afghanistan than the political hand-wringing in Ottawa over Afghan detainees.
The letter, with coloured hearts around its edges, was written by a Grade 7 student in Toronto who was born in Kabul. It tells the story of a little girl whose family fled to Pakistan after being chased from their homeland by the Taliban. Once there, her one-year-old sister was kidnapped.
"My mom wanted a country that was safe and where I would be able to learn so we came to Canada," the neatly typed letter reads. "Thank you so much for trying to make my country a better place and tell your soldier friends that I said thank you."
In a place where a bomb or a rocket sometimes barely merits getting out of bed, the letter tugs at the heart strings of the battle-hardened men and women of the Royal Canadian Dragoons out on patrol in Afghanistan.

Many of the soldiers in Spin Boldak, a ramshackle outpost in southeastern Afghanistan just six kilometres from the Pakistan border, are barely aware of the political tremors in Ottawa over reports that Afghan prisoners have been tortured in prison after leaving Canadian custody.
But they feel acutely that most of their fellow Canadians at home are themselves largely oblivious to their efforts to improve the lives of ordinary Afghan people.
During his visit to Kandahar last week, Canada's top soldier, Gen. Rick Hillier, said in his typically blunt fashion that the soldiers are "pissed off" that the detainee controversy has dominated headlines at home.
"If they're pissed off about anything, it's that we are here and we're doing so much other good stuff, and nobody's talking about it now," said Maj. Steve Graham, reconnaissance squadron commander with the Dragoons, currently deployed in Spin Boldak.
"Everybody right now is focused on this (detainee) aspect which, for us, is really an incredibly small part of everything we've done."
Many soldiers, when asked whether they've ever handled a detainee, respond with a blank look or a shake of the head.
Some are largely unaware of the controversy that has gripped the House of Commons for two weeks since news broke of allegations that prisoners handed over by Canadians to Afghan security forces have been abused and tortured.
Cpl. Fernando Arduengo, 28, of Markham, Ont., acknowledged the significance of the detainee story and said he understands that it needs to be told.
"Yes, there's stuff that happens here that's really negative, but my personal opinion of it is we're doing a hell of a lot of good things, and for it to get sidelined - it kind of sucks that things happen that way," Arduengo said.
"My wish is that the stories that are covered are on the positive things that we do. What we're doing here is we're trying to establish peace and security for these people."
Reconnaissance Squadron has handled two detainees since they were deployed shortly after Christmas, Graham said. And while none of the soldiers want to see the rights of the prisoners violated, certain realities exist in a country such as Afghanistan, he added.
"We certainly don't want them to be tortured, we don't want them to be abused, we want a process to be followed the way there is at home," Graham said.
"Ideally, we want them to follow exactly the same rules and regulations that we have, but that's not going to happen. That's not the way this country is."
For Arduengo, the handling of detainees is simple: "Treat them the way you would like to be treated."
"If they took you down, we obviously know they wouldn't be nice - at all. But how would you like to be treated? I think that's how we go about it."
Graham said most soldiers know how the system in Ottawa works, and often what looks like a lack of political support back home is little more than an opposition party's effort to score points against the government.
"All the soldiers understand that in a democracy, that's the way it works," he said.
"As long as we're sent here and we're given the tools that we need to do the job here, political debate back home is fine, and that's a good thing in a democracy."
"As long as we're getting everything we need to do our job here - the job that we've been asked to come and do - I think the guys understand the way the system works back home."
Which is why, when it comes to catching up on current events, many soldiers prefer to get their news from a class of schoolchildren than from reading Canadian newspapers or watching television.
Sgt. Dave Camp, who commands a section of engineers attached to the Dragoons, said he has hundreds of letters of support from countless school kids in his home town of Shelburne, N.S.
He plans to hand-write replies to each and every one.
"I don't know - I guess it's my upbringing," Camp said. "I'll be awful disappointed in myself if I don't get it done."
Camp said he's only heard talk about the detainee controversy, but he said it's disappointing that it has overshadowed Canada's efforts to help the people of Afghanistan.
"That might be a bad thing ... but the cases of bad, if it occurred, is a fraction of the good that's being done," he said.
"If people are going to run with the bad, they're going to run with the bad. In the end, the good is still going on, and I'm still doing my job."