A Big Thank You to Betty Maher of Souris a Mother who is an important part of our INVISIBLE ARMY. The pride in her daughter and son in law comes through in this e- mail I am proud to share with readers.
The hours awake at home, the stresses of listening to to the news, and the fears of a late night knock at the door all create stress for the members of the Invisible Army.
As Charlene McInnis looks after the Military families service Centre she realises how important contact, mail and parcels are for the Families at home. Well done again Charlene this letter should be for you.
Hi Robby Just wanted to brag a bit and nobody better than a fellow Islander who will recognize the hard work to receive this .My daughter Capt HL Ewing nee Mahar formally from Souris PEI was today promoted to MAJOR she is 28 years old so very young for a major. She is married to MC S.D, Ewing they are posted to Winnipeg right now. She has just returned from deployment to Vancouver Olympics and has completed two tours to Afghanistan, her husband returned in Dec from Afghanistan, this was his second tour also and he served in Bosnia as well. It is not only the hard physical work but the emotional strain on a military family. In their case their tours followed each other so they were seperated for a full year twice in the last 5 years. Twice she has stood back and looked as her husband boarded a plane she could not display affection and knew it would be another six months before she would see him again.Many thanks to Charlene and Debbie and all the invisible army who were there for myself and my family while they were away.All her hard work has finally paid off for her. Her goal is to become a general .
It pains me every time I read a comment about how good our soldiers have it I wonder how many would step up to the plate knowing they had to leave their new bride for six months only four weeks after being married and then find out that your bride was being deployed six weeks before your return. Anyway just wanted to pass on some good news ( at least in my books) .For the town of Souris I am not sure how many Majors started out in this little up east town. I have attached two photos the one is in Afghanistan Christmas 2008 Thanks Betty Mahar Proud Military Mom All Canadian Part of the invisible Army Souris PEI St. Jude pray for us... Heather in Afghanistan 2008 as a Captain. Congratulations on your promotion to Major . May I say when you make it to General Rank you will be the best Looking General I have ever seen. (Spoken by A Vet)
In Betty's life she also makes quilts with the QOV group and presented the first Quilt of Valour to PEI's own Tyler Coady of the PEI Regiment.
An additional e mail from Ed in Miramachi sad but fitting, Major Ewing is carrying on the tradition of our Canadian females in our military. Fay signed on at 36 years of age in WW2
Written by Lethbridge Herald
Friday, 19 March 2010
Fay Meikle, who was believed to Canadas oldest female war veteran, passed away this week in a Lethbridge seniors residence. Fay celebrated her 105th birthday in late December and received honours from Prime Minister Stephen Harper with well wishes from local MLAs and city council representatives. She had also been recognized prior to the most recent Remembrance Day ceremonies. While officials were unable to confirm her status as the nations oldest surviving female veteran, Fay was the oldest woman registered with Veterans Affairs. The former WREN?signed up for the Navy at the same time as her only son did, in 1942. She had been a resident at Extendicare since she turned 97. Fay was predeceased by her son John, her parents and all of her siblings. Her sister Erlene lived to be 101. Born in Oklahoma, her family moved to Canada when she was two. She settled in Taber in 1929. The funeral service is set for Knox United Church in?Taber, beginning at 2 p.m. today.
Please share a thought or a prayer for our troops and for the members of our Invisible Army
Nil Sine Labore
Robby
