I find it absolutely wonderful that Canadians find so many ways to remember and respect our fallen.From Boomer's Legacy through artistic work on Semi Tractor trailers.A young man Jay Power and his teams.
Mon Dec 28, 4:48 AM
NOVA.SCOTIA (CBC) - Young hockey players in Dartmouth, N.S., are bringing new meaning to an annual hockey tournament by wearing special jerseys that pay tribute to fallen members of the Armed Forces.
Tournament co-ordinator Jay Power, who also coaches the Atom Huskies, had the idea after he lost four of his friends during his last tour of duty in Afghanistan.Two teams taking part in the four-day Veterans Memorial Hockey Tournament that began Sunday have donned jerseys with the names of fallen Canadian soldiers handstitched on the back.
I just finished a tour a few months ago in Afghanistan, and from our forward operating base, we lost four guys. And, when I left there, I vowed I'd never forget them, Power said.
He hopes other participants in the 80-team tourney will take up the Adopt a Fallen Hero Challenge.
Members of the two teams already wearing the special jerseys have chosen heroes from a number of military missions, including Afghanistan. Some have chosen the names of relatives who have served and died, while others have picked the name of someone who interests them.
Justin Gray, 9, wears the name Paul Layton on the back of his jersey, just below his own name. He said he knows what people in the stands will be thinking when they see it.
They're going to think about how important it is that people in Afghanistan are fighting for us, Justin said.
Beth Vallis coaches the Midget C Huskies team, made up of seven- to nine- year-old hockey players.
Vallis said she has already heard from families whose sons' names are sewn on the back of her team's jerseys.
They're so proud that their sons and daughters have not been forgotten and that their memory will live on through this younger generation of hockey players, Vallis said Sunday.
Her son, Cameron, wore a memorial shirt for a naval diver lost during a peacetime operation. Vallis said it was an emotional experience.
Cameron today is wearing [the name] Sub-Lt. Corey Wells on his jersey. He was a young naval diver, and he served on HMCS Margaree, and it was a naval diving operation. So, it was an operation, it wasn't at war, it was at peace time, she said.
The significance is that we lose sailors and Armed Forces personnel all the time, and not just in war.
Power hopes his idea to honour the fallen will catch on with other the 1,400 children competing in the tournament this week.
But his ultimate dream is to see National Hockey League players honouring the names of fallen soldiers on their jerseys, even if it's just for one game.
We'd like to challenge even the NHL, even for one game, to wear a hero's name, and then auction off the jersey, and give the proceeds to the Wounded Warriors fund, Power said.
I mean, that's just a thought. We might be dreaming, but that would be a great thing if it would happen.
Another fine team of Canadians remembering the Canadians who have paid the ultimate price.May the be blessed by the Lord for their wonderful endeavours.
Remember Everyone Deployed
Nil Sine Labore
Robby
