Once again Rex from Sunny Alberta brings to my attention this great Letter:
Letter of the Day
By Patrick Donahoe Last Updated: March 2, 2010 10:01pm
You can consider this is my love letter to Canada . The United States and Canada are inextricably linked not only in the gold medal game in hockey, but on the battlefields of Afghanistan and on the training fields of both our countries. We are both great democracies that inspire people from around the world and we are both magnets for immigrants. And we are both willing to fight when fighting needs to be done. I first visited Canada with my family in the late 1970s. We crossed into Canada from upstate New York , hit Montreal , then drove along the river and crossed back into New York . I grew up, went to university and then into the Army. After Desert Storm was fought while I was in Korea , I went to Fort Knox , Kentucky , and was tagged to host a group of Royal Canadian Air Cadets out of Mississauga . A great group of folks with whom I visited on and off over a couple of years in the early 90s including one night wandering around a snowy Canadian training area, wondering how embarrassing it would be for an American Army Officer to freeze to death in Canada while hanging out with a bunch of Canadian high school kids. After marriage, my wife and I vacationed with our baby daughter and my parents in Nova Scotia , where we saw one of the great intersections of American and Canadian history. We visited a site where Canadians had repulsed American privateers and I saw tributes to Loyalist Colonists who left Massachusetts and settled in Nova Scotia . That was interesting, though not interesting enough for my wife to forgive me for trapping her in a minivan with her in-laws. But it was not as inspiring as the people of Nova Scotia caring for the thousands of people stranded at the Halifax airport on Sept. 11, 2001. After tours in Bosnia, Kuwait and in Iraq, I found myself at Fort Irwin, California, with a group of Canadian Army officers and non-commissioned officers who were helping us train American soldiers en route to Afghanistan and renewing my admiration for our northern neighbour. These were proud representatives of Canada s bravest men and women who had fought the hardest of fights in Afghanistan and who had spilled blood, their own and that of the enemy. They brought their lessons and they freely gave of their experiences which in turn broadened the training for these Americans who are engaged in the same cause. I dont speak for all Americans, but Im sure I speak for most we are humbled by the burden Canada has born in this war in Afghanistan , and we are honoured by her sacrifice. We serve shoulder to shoulder in this war against extremism. We honour the Canadians killed on Sept. 11, 2001, and the 140 Canadians who have given their lives in Afghanistan . We, as Americans, are lucky to have such a neighbour. So, congratulations on your record-breaking gold medals in Vancouver and even on the hockey gold. Well done. Patrick Donahoe Colonel United States Army
Thank you Colonel Donahue for the wise words. Stay safe in our mutual fight against Terrorism Globally.
One More Message to our Veterans from Benny Super Frog In Ottawa:
Dear fellow Veterans,
Chers vtrans,
Many of you have been asking about the Veterans Card. A plastic Record of Service Card NDI75 is available to all retired military service personnel of the Canadian Forces, Regular and Reserve components.
Plusieurs dentre vous me demande propos de la Carte du Vtran . Une carte de registre de service NDI75 est disponible pour tous les militaires la retraite des Forces canadiennes, y inclus la Rgulire et la Rserve.
This card is valid to enter all federal government historic sites and is recognized at some historic sites in Europe as well. It is essential to book free passage on VIA Rail in July and for other transportation agencies and companies for passage.
Cette carte est valide pour accder aux sites historiques du gouvernement fdral et est mme reconnu certains sites en Europe aussi. Elle est essentiel pour prendre passage sur VIA Rail en juillet et pour dautres transporteurs titre gratuit.
To obtain your NDI75 card write to the address below. They will send you a form to complete which you will have to return with two pictures of yourself. The procedure takes form 6 to 8 weeks. Apply now!
Pour obtenir votre carte NDI75 crivez ladresse ici bas. Ils vont vous envoyer un formulaire que vous devrez complter et retourner avec deux photos de vous-mme. Cela peut prendre entre 6 8 semaines. Appliquez maintenant!
Service Recognition / Commission Scripts and Scrolls
DMCA 4-2-2-4-3-2
National Defence Headquarters
MGenGeorgeR.PearkesBuilding
101 Colonel By Drive
Ottawa, ON K1A 0K2
Remember Everyone Deployed
Nil Sine Labore
Robby
PS: I have no idea where the Blog on detainees went, Cyberspace, A Hacker, no idea thank you for all who felt strongly for and against. Makes one proud to be a Canuck to share opinions. Perhaps Big Brother removed it !
