A member of an American Hockey team Sidney Crosby flew into Halifax on a sea king helicopter. Landing on the HMCS Preserever. He thanked the military for all their efforts in Afghanistan and at home.
The captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrated his 22nd birthday with the NHL's famous championship trophy at events around Halifax and Cole Harbour, the suburban community where he was raised.
The military helicopter landed Friday morning on the flight deck of HMCS Preserver at the Halifax Dockyard. But first, the aircraft circled the city's harbour with the Stanley Cup sitting in the open chopper door.
Meagan and Ryan Lunn of Cole Harbour were among those to meet their hometown hero at the dockyard. It was a moment arranged by family friends because their father, Mike, is deployed in Afghanistan on bomb disposal duties.
I'm just so grateful that we met him, said Meagan. The guys at the unit arranged this for us because I love Sidney and it was just good to meet him.
She plans to email pictures of their time with Crosby to her father.
I think he's going to be shocked and happy that his friends did this for us and kept us in mind, said Meagan, who had Crosby sign the back of her pink cellphone.
Ryan, who is in pee wee, got his hockey stick signed by Crosby.
My dad will really love it, he said.
Crosby said because of the city's connection with the military, he wanted to start the day by sharing the cup with members of the Armed Forces.
This is something that I felt was important, he said. There's a lot of troops that aren't here right now who are overseas ... but for the ones who are here I thought they would really get a kick out of it.
Crosby said the NHL is unique because it allows its players to travel with the championship trophy.
That's what we get a kick out of us players is the sharing with everyone, said Crosby, who also made a private visit to a children's hospital in Halifax.
Also a large measure of thanks to the runners,crew and support staff of HMCS Charlottetown. In it's Seventh Year.
The Run 4 Wishes team began day four of their five-day marathon Friday when they headed out from Georgetown, through Pooles Corner, Vernon River, Cherry Valley, Pownal and Tea Hill finishing at the Stratford Sobeys. A Red Friday rally was held there. Crewmembers held fundraisers onboard the ship and they are accepted donations along the route. There are 23 crewmembers participating in the relay run this year but only Mary Landry is a returning runner. The ships medic is on her third run for the cause. The crew has been training for months for this marathon that will see them cover 50 to 100 kilometres a day. Landry said the runners are receiving lots of encouragement and refreshment along the route, which came in handy on a hot Tuesday. Last year, the team raised over $67,000 on the Island - the single largest amount ever raised by the Run4Wishes.
Events like these in both Halifax and PEI show, the proud links between the military and civilian parts of Canada. Charity work like the run 4 wishes has always been carried out via your military across this fine country we call home. CANADA.
Proud to be a Canadian, please continue showing your support for all of our troops, their families and loved ones whether serving at home or abroad.
Nil Sine Labore
Robby
