TASK FORCE 1-10 DEPARTURE CEREMONY
CFB GAGETOWN, N.B. An assembly and family day for deploying soldiers from CFB Gagetown and the Atlantic Area was held at CFB Gagetown on March 31st to mark the departure of these soldiers to Afghanistan with Task Force 1-10 in April.
Media were invited to attend the ceremony and speak with senior representatives from Land Force Atlantic Area, deploying soldiers and their families.
The day began with addresses by the Commander of Land Force Atlantic Area, Brigadier-General Anthony Stack and the Commander of Land Force Central Area, Brigadier-General John Collin, followed by a BBQ and a variety of childrens activities.
As our next group of soldiers deploy, they leave behind loved ones yet again. The stress on some of these members of Canada's Invisible Army is without a doubt a big factor of waving off, a husband , a wife, a son , a daughter or indeed dad. No matter where they are deployed from, nor where they live. The military Families Service Centres are available for advice, an ear to listen or simply a hand in getting something shipped to the loved one. This current group will miss Mother's Day, Father's Day, Canada Day as well as many Birthdays and Anniversaries.
Eggs arrive at Central Stores
Were issued upon signature
This is the number for information regarding anyone on a mission.
Fifty Years ago Canadian Troops from RC Sigs, RCASC, RCOC etc went to the Congo as peace keepers. Today in 2010 the ongoing Congo mission is the largest under the UN Flag. Breaking news about a possible posting for General Leslie to take command of the UN Congo Mission. As they say History repeats it's self.
Lieutenant-General Andrew Leslie, who was replaced as head of the army last week while being given no new duties, is a leading candidate to head the 22,000-person United Nations Mission in Congo (MONUC), if the UN and Canada agree that a Canadian officer should take overall command of the deployment.
But that command would not involve a major shift in military emphasis from Afghanistan to Congo. The total Canadian contingent would consist of only a few dozen, few of whom may be military.
Canada is among the nations that have been asked by the UN secretariat to consider offering a candidate for the position of force commander for MONUC, said Lisa Monette, a spokeswoman at the Department of Foreign Affairs.
We are currently analyzing this request, taking into account Canadian capacities.
A decision is expected within one or two weeks.
Currently we have approximately 10 positions in UN HQ Congo.
On A Good Note:
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, right, packs a food hamper with volunteer Marion Purcell during a visit to the Calgary Poppy Fund Veterans Food Bank in Calgary, Friday, April 2, 2010. Harper is in his riding for the Easter holiday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Members of Canada's Invisible Army visit Kandahar:
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - The families of nine Canadian soldiers killed in combat over the past four years have made a solemn Easter weekend pilgrimage to Kandahar Airfield and many of them say Ottawa should not entirely pull out of Afghanistan next year.
Fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and uncles took part in a special ceremony Saturday behind the task force headquarters, where the faces, names and dates of the 141 dead soldiers are etched into a granite memorial.
Kay and Myles Kennedy, parents of Pte. Kevin Kennedy, who was killed along with five other soldiers in Afghanistan on Easter Sunday, attend his funeral at Our Lady Of The Assumption Roman Catholic Church in St. Mary's,NL., Thursday, Apr.19, 2007. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Rhonda Hayward)
My baby Brother Joey sent me a lovely link to a video of a member of the Invisible Army welcoming home a soldier. There are quite a few videos on this site all about the Invisible Army ( non Speaking kind). Copy and paste if no link working.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BT8i3xMhrgfeature=related
MY ex Apprenti Buddy Wayne Flaherty sent this link to you tube wonderful stories:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19PnKuuL0Zwfeature=fvw
Las but by no means least This link may be American but I for one sure would like to see Canadians do this. Sent in by Faithful Veteran reader Debbie:
http://media.causes.com/576542?p_id=92681239
Have a wonderful Family Easter and to our troops far away, we are thinking of you always.
Nil Sine Labore
Robby
