Sitting here at my PC. I have been thinking about what to write about today?
Well the fact that a Canadian man had entered Afghanistan a couple of months ago, as a Tourist! ! ! I cannot help but wonder what type of fool would go to a contry that has been involved in war for many decades, as a TOURIST. Now it seems that he has been taken prioner by the cowardly taliban. I pray for his sake that either our military or diplomats obtain his release. However we must prepare for a headline of his execution. Whatever would convince a sane man to go their and claim to be simply a tourist.
When I returned to Canada a few years ago, after 16 years working away. One of the first things I did was re join my local Legion. I soon learned that in the intervening years of my absence that the Legion which I had remembered fondly, was no longer.
Our veterans from Afghanistan, Bosnia, etc are treated disgracefully and I hear from many Veterans that they are very confused about the role of the 21st Century Royal Canadian Legion. There are many executives that have never worn the uniform of any service. I add this letter that I received today. Perhaps a reader can advise me the whys and therefores of the new Legion.
Hi Robby
Not sure if you have seen this article but it might be of interest for your blog?
Yours Aye Ben
The 40th annual mass of Remembrance for WWII Veterans was held on Nov 5, 2010 in a beautiful church in Halifax. The service was for all denominations of faith, and the clergy did a wonderful job at making all feel welcome. Both, myself, and a friend who is also a modern day Veteran attended the ceremony along with many VIP'S including Veterans of WWII, Veterans of Korea, families of deceased Veterans and RCMP officers, the Lt Governor of N.S., Canadian Forces senior officers representing Land Forces Area Atlantic, Maritime Forces Atlantic, the Air Force, RCMP, HRM Fire, HRM Police, the Mayor, as well as many others.
Upon entering the church my thoughts and prayers were with my grandfather who was a five time decorated WWII Veteran, who died in 1993 while I was deployed overseas during the Somalia crises. My thoughts were also with our Afghanistan Veterans and their families, and I wondered what my grandfather would have said to me if he knew then how poorly they would be treated by today's Progressive Conservative government, the New Veterans Charter, and the bureaucracies of Veterans Affairs Canada.
Unfortunately, our modern Veterans hurting does not stop there; they do not even have the support from the Royal Canadian Legion itself. Senior members of the RCL were also present at the mass and were watchful of those arriving as there were many VIP photo opportunities to be had. But not for my friend and I. We arrived very early wearing our poppies and medals, but were also carrying printed invitations to distribute inviting people to attend a peaceful Veteran's rally in support of fair treatment for our Afghanistan troops. We had prior permission from the church to pass out the invitations, but were shocked at the cold reaction from the Legion. We knew that Legion Dominion Command chose not to support the rally, and informed its branches accordingly by email not to provide any colours, flag parties or even for members to attend wearing Legion insignia. But that wasn't on our minds, until we were approached no less than three times by Mona Saulnier (Legion commander for HRM) and were told we were �not welcome to pass out invitations here as it was a Legion event�. I was stunned, outraged, and disgusted. The Legion commander (who by the way is not a Veteran herself) could not have been more wrong in her entire life. It would have been obvious to her that I am a Veteran; I told her that my grandfather was a Veteran from the second world war; the church's pastor is my pastor; that we are standing in a free country; and that I was absolutely not leaving. She then tried to coral us into seating which would preclude us from handing out the invitations; we declined. This was all done very quietly, I assure you that none of the parishioners knew. That is why I find it very coincidental that after we refused to move, we were then joined by three Legion ushers around us which effectively choked off our ability to easily say hello to arriving Veterans. My friend has PTSD and had to leave at that point, but wanted me to stay if I could. I remained, and my thoughts and prayers were strained on how on earth will individual modern Veteran's and their families ever get through the tough times ahead when even the Legion is reluctant to take up our cause for fear of reprisals from the government of Canada.
Sincerely
Michael Raymond
Halifax N.S.
Thank you for this enlightening e mail.
Pease show your support for our Troops and their families.
Nil Sine Labore
Robby
