As today is Red Friday This e mail did not reach me until late Thursday. I realise it is short notice but perhaps some of you early Risers will be able to attend in Memory of a young soldier:
As you know the Fishbowl Shows our Support for the Troops on Red Fridays (and everyday). Tomorrow will be a very special day. I won't give you the whole just of the story, but I have been in contact with Nancy Morris of Frederiction/St. John Area. A friend of her's, Laurie Greenslade of St. John sadly lost her son David in the Afghan Mission. Here is a brief tribute to David that I found online. http://www.redfridays.ca/memorial/greenslade.php Laurie and the Red Ribbon Girls are coming over to PEI tomorrow (on her birthday, mind you, to meet the Fishbowl and say thanks). We are going to have her say hello to PEI and thanks to all Islanders who support Red Friday. Here is where you come in Charlene!!!! We are going to do a quick interview with Laurie (a few minutes) on KROCK about 9:20ish and Nancy tells me it would make Laurie's Birthday to have as many people as possible wearing Red oustide the Fishbowl to support her!! Anything you can get PEI Family Military Family Services could do would be awesome!! I am sure Laurie would love to meet some fellow Island Military families as well.
Pte. David Robert Greenslade Saint John, N.B. 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment NR-07.020 - April 8, 2007
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (CP) - A devastating roadside-bomb explosion killed six Canadian soldiers Sunday in the worst single-day toll for the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan, military officials said.
The explosion west of Kandahar city also caused serious but non-life-threatening injuries to one Canadian soldier and light injuries to another, said Col. Mike Cessford, deputy commander of the Canadian contingent in Kandahar.
The soldiers were in a moving vehicle when the blast occurred around 1:00 p.m. Col Mike Ceswsford stated. You can appreciate, clearly we are saddened by the loss of six our best soldiers ... but we stay committed to the mission, he said. This is what we do. We are focused on rebuilding Afghanistan, on doing the right things for those kids who wave at us every day as we drive down the roads here.
Statement Statement by the Minister of National Defence on the deaths of Six Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan
OTTAWA The Honourable Gordon O'Connor, Minister of National Defence, issued the following statement today on the deaths of six Canadian soldiers:
It is with the utmost sorrow that I extend my condolences, and those of all Canadians, to the families and friends of Sergeant Donald Lucas, Corporal Brent D. Poland, Corporal Christopher Paul Stannix, Corporal Aaron E. Williams, Private David Robert Greenslade, and Private Kevin Vincent Kennedy.
Those who fell will be deeply missed by the Canadian Forces family. The dedication and bravery of these soldiers will be forever remembered. I also extend my wishes for a speedy recovery to those injured in the attack.
Our troops have a clear mission - to build security and stability in Afghanistan. And it is because our soldiers are succeeding in this mission that they came under attack.
It is in Canadas national interest that the people of Afghanistan regain control of their own destiny - to ensure their country never again becomes a launching pad for global terrorism. There can be no doubt that the desperate terrorists who carried out yesterdays attack want to return a murderous regime to power.
Let us show Mrs.Laurie Greenslade an Island welcome and tell her that Canada owes a large debt of gratitude to all our troops and their families.
We also wish Captain Tyler Collings of Cardigan a full and speedy recovery from his wounds sustained in Afghanistan.
Some of the Afghan soldiers Collings was with were killed and others were wounded, she said.
Collings's mother received word from the military on Tuesday morning about her son, and she has since spoken to him. She said it was a great relief to finally speak with him.
Collings is being med evaced to a hospital in Germany Thursday evening.
Nova Scotia MP Peter Stoffer, the NDP veterans affairs critic today questioned the Government on the selling of Medals. He stated that Honours and medals are not protected as of yet as Heritage items that should not be turned into hard cash..He said the Order of Canada is protected by a law forbidding sale. I am not normally in favour of NDP comments. However there is always one that stands out. I would like to give MP Peter Stoffer a Bravo Zulu for his interest in veterans recognition and in the other area with Bill C-201 with reference to the Clawback of pensions for the military and the RCMP.
Nova Scotia New Democrat Peter Stoffer, the party's veterans affairs critic, is upset about the pending sale of a Victoria Cross awarded to a First World War soldier.
Robert Shankland was one of three soldiers who all lived on the same street in Winnipeg and who all won Commonwealth's highest decoration for military valour.
The city renamed the street Valour Road.
His medals are expected to be auctioned off privately very soon and Veterans Affairs Minister Greg Thompson has already said that the federal government will not allow them to leave the country.
Stoffer, who has lobbied for 10 years to ban the sale of medals, said the federal government must go further and simply halt such sales.
The Governor General gave these men and women medals in honour and recognition for service to their country, he told a Parliament Hill news conference. She did not give them $100 bills to be hanging from their chest.
Selling the Order of Canada is banned under federal legislation and the honours bestowed on soldiers and police officers should be no different, Stoffer added.
With the war raging in Afghanistan, hundreds of soldiers have received medals for their sacrifice, including the Military Star of Valour. The Conservative government recently introduced the country's own version of the Victoria Cross for heroics on the battlefield, but thus far no one has been awarded the decoration.
Stoffer said he's talked to many young veterans who would be upset to find their medals auctioned away on EBay after their deaths.
Under a legislated ban, the medals could be given as gifts to private individuals - or families. But ideally Stoffer would like to see the honours given to museums or local legions, where they can be displayed.
Thompson reassured the Commons that Shankland's Victoria Cross - won in a desperate battle with the Germans at Passchendaele 1917, would not be leaving the country. But he refused to support a legislated ban, suggesting that it infringes on individual property rights.
At the end of the day, other governments have grappled with this as well with the selling of these medals and it's really a balancing of interest between the Canadian public and the rights of owners, said Thompson.
It's not the first time there's been a mad scramble to save medals belonging to a Canadian soldier. In 1998, a private collector paid $400,000 for the awards given to war poet Col. John McCrae, who wrote In Flanders Fields. They were eventually given to a museum.
Aside from auction houses, military memorabilia collectors are increasing being drawn to online sites, such as EBay. On Thursday, bids were being taken for Military Medal awarded to Canadian Pte. Stewart Spiers of the Winnipeg Grenadiers. The asking price was $799.99.
A homemade shadow board is a fine way to proudly show your families medals and honours.
Top Row Pte George Rae The Gordon Highlanders of Aberdeen 1914-1917 my Grandfather
Second Row Gunner Albert McRobb Royal Artillery 1939-1945 my Father
Third Row myself RCASC 1960-1982
Fourth Row FIrefighter Michael McRobb 1988-1992 my son
Bottom Row Cpl.Kevin Chisholm RCR. now a serving RCMP officer my nephew.
Nil Sine Labore Robby
