28 August 09---30 August 09
The 11th reunion of the RCASC Green Monsters was called. Meet and greet was a great event, glasses tinkling. laughter voices in many groups. Hey you old goat, attention. remember when? All these conversations going on at once, meet the wife. What sounded like pandemodium to other people entering the mess was actually all the apprenti trying to talk at once. The loudness settled to a hum as memories were shared. Wives that had never known their husband in the military laughed at some of the embellished stories of their spouse while they were young.
The only sadness was the announcement of two apprenti who had moved on to the advance party on the day and week preceeding the reunion. John Leski and Ernie Wentzell passed away on opposite coasts. John in Victoria BC Ernie in Truro NS. Toasts were shared for the most recent apprenti who had joined the advance party. May they be blessed by God and be ready when one day all apprenti will be with them once again.
I met two of my platoon mates with their wives. Dave and Marj Maxwell had travelled from the wilds of Indiana to attend, While Mel Limey Williams and his wife Irene joined us from Victoria BC. Apprenti some with wives some with family members came from all corners of our fine land. We rekindled friendships and told many tall tales of our lives since we had last met. It made no difference whether we had met 30 days ago or 30 years ago, time melted.
Lots of memorabilia and photos were on hand, including a Soldier Apprentice uniform.
Benny Lemarbre with Apprentice CORPS Jacket. Although many of have put on a couple of pounds over the years,( I say pounds as they are lighter than Kilograms).Quite a few Manny Raspberry, Mel and Neil Williams, Mike Dunk, Glenn Numbers still have all their hair and are as slim and trim as in apprenti days. A few more of us a wee bit heavier. I met men that I had never met before Rex Hrywkiw but thanks to the Internet the past couple of years we had become web friends. Our padre Art Turnbull himself a former apprentice and cook gave a wonderful oration at our memorial parade on the Sunday. Where as the stirring march past Wait for the Wagons started up our shoulders went back, our backs straightened, and we stepped of regardless of arthritic aches and pains. We were transformed into proud 16 year olds again.
25 Pl with Denny our first Pl Officer LtoR Al McRobb,Mel Williams, Denny Deneumoustier, Manny Raspberry, Dave Maxwell. Lurking with green sash Benny Lemarbre
The extended military family is a wonderful thing. We talked about current events and of our young soldiers in Afghanistan. We said a toast and a prayer to these brave men and women our successors in the proud tradition of the Canadian Military.
I have many photos to arrive from buddies and much more to write. I will continue this Blog later in the week. I would like to thank all my fellow apprenti for re invigorating my life. As lately I have been going through a rather rough patch. I feel refreshed and totally re-energized. Thanks guys May we all meet again at the 2012 reunion.
God Bless our serving troops, our brothers in the advance party, and all members of the Invisible Army.
Nil Sine Labore
Robby
